AR HR1024

Supports implementation of recommendations from the 2012 interim study on women's social and economic status in Arkansas, which found women fare poorly in health, education, human trafficking, and economic status.

Recommends passing paid family leave legislation and revising state procurement policies to set aside contracts specifically for women-owned businesses, which currently receive only 2.3% of state contracts exceeding $25,000 despite comprising 24.5% of state firms.

Calls for pay equity reforms, creation of a Pay Equity Task Force, and requiring state contract bidders to demonstrate commitment to combating pay inequality, addressing the wage gap where Arkansas women earn approximately 82 cents per dollar paid to male counterparts.

Recommends reinstating the Arkansas Women's Commission with advisory councils on poverty reduction and public health benefits distribution, and supporting meaningful human trafficking reforms and school-based community health centers.

Encourages support for education initiatives promoting female student participation in historically male-dominated fields, expansion of counseling opportunities, and collection of gender-specific educational performance data by state education departments.