We are excited to continue our weekly legislative watch during the 2011 legislative session, which begins January 11, 2011.  The session will extend through the first week of March and any kind of bill can be introduced because it is a "regular" session; all bill information can be found at:  http://legisweb.state.wy.us/.

WYWF will provide you information on all bills that impact women in Wyoming. WYWF is not providing opinions on bills; we are providing information during the session.  We hope you will use the updates to become informed and able to converse with your local legislators. Legislative contact information can be found here: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/LSOWeb/LegInfo.aspx.

Below are current bills that impact the lives of women in Wyoming.  Please share with us any information you receive from your legislators about these bills to help us keep our supporters informed with up-to-date information.  

HB20 Medicaid Reimbursement of Services, Sponsored by Select Committee on Developmental/Intellectual Programs

This bill authorizes Medicaid payment to relatives of persons with developmental disabilities or acquired brain injuries.

HB21 Battery Against a Family Member, Sponsored by Representatives Barbuto, Buchanan, and Throne and Senator Hastert

This bill removes restrictions relating to second and subsequent convictions for simple battery against family members.

HB23 Sex Offender Registration Amendments, Sponsored by Judiciary Interim Committee

This bill amends and increases the amount of information sex offenders are required to provide and requires specified juveniles to register as sex offenders.

HB28 Child Protection Shelter Care and Initial Hearings, Sponsored by Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

This bill changes the judicial procedures and requirements to follow after a child is placed into emergency protective shelter care. 

SF11 CHINS- Administrative Change of Placement, Sponsored by Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

This bill allows for the placement of children who are in need of supervision and are in state custody without a court hearing.

SF25 Long Term Services and Support, Sponsored by Senators Martin, Hastert, Landen, Scott, and Von Flatern and Representatives Connolly, Craft and Davison

This bill authorizes a statewide network of aging and disability resource centers.

SF29 Long-term Services and Support

This bill provides requirements for Medicaid reimbursement of home and community based waiver service providers, including enhanced reimbursement of certified behavioral specialists and provides for the development of a training and certification program for behavior specialists. 

SF30 Wyoming Safe Homes Act, Sponsored by Senators Hastert and Cooper and Representatives Barbuto, Connolly, Craft, Davison and Pedersen

This bill allows a victim of sexual or domestic violence to terminate a lease, and allows for a tenant to require landlord to change locks if requirements are met. 

SF53 Child Preference in Custody Determinations, Sponsored by Senator Landen

This bill allows for the wishes of a child to be considered in child custody determinations.

We are seeking to learn about the life of workers who earn minimum wage in Wyoming.  Are you earning minimum wage? (The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour).What kind of job do you have? Are you able to make ends meet with that wage? How? We will be asking how your wage impacts your life and that of your family.

We will also specifically be looking for information from Wyomingites who rely on tipped wages. Are your tipped wages enough to get you by and are you aware of the tipped offset? We encourage you to check the WYWF facebook page to share your story. If you would prefer your information remains anonymous and not posted publicly, please email us at sarah@wywf.org or call 307-250-0479.  Your information will be kept confidential, unless you agree to let us share your story. 

Please join the conversation! We want to hear from you so that we can maximize the number of women in Wyoming that have achieved economic self-sufficiency.