Queens lawmakers representing areas including Flushing, Astoria and Far Rockaway are slated to join a group of leaders that will seek to find new ways to effectively address sexual harassment.
Speaker Carl Heastie announced that Assemblywomen Nily Rozic, Aravella Simotas and Michele Titus are among the 15 representatives chosen to join a newly formed “sexual harassment work group.” Members will examine various sexual harassment issues and policy responses during the 2018 legislative session.
The announcement comes amid an ongoing national conversation about sexual harassment, spurred on by a series of allegations brought against mostly male public figures.
In recent months, Rozic has introduced legislation that would protect models working in the fashion industry from sexual and other harassment with certain policy changes. She also introduced legislation that would establish sexual harassment prevention training within the private sector. A state Senate version of the bill is co-sponsored by Queens state Senators Toby Ann Stavisky and Jose Peralta.
“The proposals that have come forward over the past few months reflect a commitment from the state Legislature to combating sexual harassment in a manner that protects survivors while holding abusers accountable,” Rozic said. “I thank Speaker Heastie for convening this work group and providing a new opportunity for us to determine next steps that the Assembly can take moving forward.”
In January, Rozic was also appointed by Heastie to serve as chair of the state Assembly’s Task Force on Women’s Issues.
“Sexual harassment must be confronted head-on,” Heastie said. “I look forward to the recommendations of this work group so that we can develop a statewide legislative solution to this very serious problem.”
