Issue Position: Family

Issue Position

Authorized unpaid leave to attend parent-teacher conferences
When parents are engaged students thrive. Students with involved parents score higher on tests, achieve higher grades, behave better in school, and are more likely to pursue post secondary education. While there is no way to legislate parental involvement I believe we should do all we can to ensure parents have the opportunity to be active participants in the education of their children. That's why I support allowing an employee to use unpaid leave to attend parent-teacher meetings.
Helping students IEP Students:
Allowing parents with disabilities to take unpaid leave to attend parent-teacher meetings is an essential component to understanding the unique challenges and needs of their children and will help ensure they are able to thrive in our schools.

Prohibiting discrimination against tenants based on source of income
Montgomery County has led the way and has prohibited discrimination in housing based on source of income and it's time for the entire state of Maryland to do the same. Today in all but three counties individuals can be denied access to affordable housing simply because a portion of their income may come from governmental or rental assistance, alimony or child support. Denial of access to affordable housing simply because of their source of income disproportionately affects women and has pervasive and debilitating long term affects to the family unit. That's why I will advocate for the passage of legislation that protects our citizens from this type of discrimination.
Advocating for Safe & Sick Leave

I believe that every employee in Maryland who has been the recent victim of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault must be given proper time to rest, recover, and respond to their situation. That's why I fully support and will fight for legislation to give those victims the right to take earned, paid time off in order to settle their affairs.
Expanding Access to Protective Orders in Cases of Dating Violence and Sexual Assault
Peace and Protective Orders are civil orders issued by a judge that order one person to refrain from committing certain acts against another. The relationship between perpetrator and the victim determines the petition to be filed. Protective Orders generally apply to people in domestic relationships. Peace Orders apply to other persons. Protective Orders are taken more seriously by the court and can be ordered for a prolonged period of time as compared to Peace Orders. I fully support legislation that expands to scope of persons eligible for a Protective Order to include victims of dating violence and sexual assault.

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