Governor files new round of bills addressing women’s issues

The governor stressed that: “Our vision as women is to empower women, ensuring we have an Advocate’s Office that oversees, educates and works with cases of women victims of violence, while also empowering those who wish to study, breastfeed and work.” (Facebook via Jenniffer González Colón)

By The Star Staff

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón introduced a series of bills on Tuesday aimed at strengthening women’s rights, addressing maternity from a comprehensive perspective, and modernizing the framework of the Office of the Women’s Advocate (OPM by its initials in Spanish).

“It is important that, with the Office of the Women’s Advocate established and the necessary positions to fill for advisory councils and the advocate, we equip it with the tools to become an office that extends beyond handling domestic violence cases,” the governor said at a press conference. “Our vision as women is to empower women, ensuring we have an Advocate’s Office that oversees, educates and works with cases of women victims of violence, while also empowering those who wish to study, breastfeed and work.”

The proposals received support from legislators across various parties, as well as from recently confirmed Women’s Advocate Astrid Piñeiro Vázquez and her predecessor, Madeline Bermúdez Sanabria, who is now a judge on the Court of First Instance.

The first measure aims to amend Law 20-2001 to modernize the functions and structure of the OPM, expand its jurisdiction over all laws recognizing women’s rights, and strengthen its oversight role. It will also delegate adjudicative functions to examining officers or administrative judges and direct fines imposed to a special account for services benefiting high-risk women.

Among the changes, the law will incorporate the concept of “nonprofit organization,” establish uniform terms for the Advisory Council, and create the Program to Guarantee Equal Employment Opportunities by Gender, which will require public agencies to prepare affirmative action plans.

The second measure proposes the Puerto Rico Breastfeeding Code, which consolidates more than nine existing laws on the topic and recognizes breastfeeding as a fundamental right for mothers and a vital public health tool. This legislation includes measures to guarantee one hour per day for breastfeeding or pumping during working hours without loss of pay and prohibits discrimination in public or private spaces.

Additionally, the bill imposes sanctions on those who violate those rights and designates August as “Breastfeeding Awareness Month,” which will be promoted through educational activities.

The third measure creates the Puerto Rico Breast Milk Bank Act, which will be associated with the Department of Health to collect, process, and distribute donated breast milk under strict safety standards. The new entity will address the need for milk for hospitalized newborns, following guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Human Milk Banking Association of North America.

The bill includes the establishment of a multidisciplinary board of directors and specialized personnel. It will also require health insurance plans to provide mandatory coverage for donated milk when prescribed by a doctor.

The fourth measure designates the fourth Thursday of April as the “Official Day of Girls and Women in STEM” in Puerto Rico, with the goal of promoting access to and training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics as essential tools for the island’s development.

The initiatives complement other proposals already presented by the governor, such as Bill A-015, which aims to expedite public-private partnerships for the construction of shelters for women victims of violence; Bill A-016, which mandates the immediate issuance of protection orders in courts; Bill A-017, requiring semiannual training for judges on domestic violence issues; and Bill A-018, which guarantees direct access to obstetrician-gynecologists for up to one year after childbirth under health insurance plans.

Also included is Measure A-025, which establishes fixed 10-year terms for anyone confirmed as a women’s advocate, even if they fill the position as a substitute for someone who has vacated the role.