The Rhode Island Supreme Court has adopted a new policy that will allow women Bar applicants who are breastfeeding to easily obtain accommodations when taking the Bar exam. The policy was adopted after a number of groups encouraged the Rhode Island Board of Bar Examiners to revise its policies that offered no accommodations to individuals who were breastfeeding, leaving them at a serious disadvantage during the test.
The new policy now explicitly extends eligibility for accommodations to those who are breastfeeding, and allows breastfeeding applicants to request and obtain accommodations without unnecessary or intrusive burdens. The ACLU of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Women’s Bar Association, League of Women Voters of Rhode Island, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, and Rhode Island NOW had sent a number of letters to the Board since last July calling for these reforms.
Jenn Steinfeld, executive director of the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, said today: “Our organization applauds the Rhode Island Supreme Court’s recognition of the importance of accommodating breast feeding applicants. This is yet another step toward professional accessibility for all. Like Rhode Island’s new state law providing workplace protections for pregnant and breastfeeding employees, this policy helps ensure that parents don’t have to choose between the health of their children and their employment or career. We are proud to see Rhode Island promote gender equality and will remain vigilant to ensure it is implemented fairly.”
In their correspondence with the Board, the groups recommended accommodations such as allowing women to bring necessary medical equipment and supplies to the test, providing additional break time to express breast milk, or other accommodations an individual may need to ensure women do not suffer any medical issues. Not allowing for such accommodations, the groups noted, forced candidates needing accommodations related to breastfeeding to choose between taking the test under conditions that could place their health at risk and postponing their test date until they were no longer breastfeeding.
Jane W. Koster, president of the League of Women Voters of RI, said: “The new policy in place for accommodations erases discrimination and prevents arbitrary decision-making, and thus offers the exam without bias or barriers against women who are breastfeeding. In the future, I am sure we will hear success stories from women who found great convenience, comfort and ease of exam anxiety while profiting from these accommodations. I applaud the R.I. Supreme Court’s decision.”
Rhode Island now joins all other New England states and many others across the country that provide specific accommodations for women who are breastfeeding at the time of their Bar exam. The previous policy addressed only accommodations for people with disabilities.
A copy of the new policy is available here: https://www.courts.ri.gov/AttorneyResources/baradmission/PDF/Nonstandard_Testing.pdf
]]>Citing a recent “pattern of disturbingly inadequate” responses to open records requests “on truly critical matters of public import,” five open government organizations have called on Governor Gina Raimondo to issue an executive order that calls on state agencies to “adopt a strong presumption in favor of disclosure in addressing requests for public information.”
In a letter sent Tuesday to Gov. Raimondo, the five organizations — ACCESS/RI, American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, Rhode Island Press Association, New England First Amendment Coalition, and League of Women Voters of Rhode Island — cite three recent incidents in which state agencies addressed Access to Public Records (APRA) requests. The groups called the handling of each of these requests “questionable” and indicative of a “disinterest in promoting the public’s right to know.”
In the first incident, according to the Providence Journal, the state Department of Transportation provided an incomplete response to a reporter’s request for records related to the administration’s hotly debated truck toll proposal, failed to properly request an extension of time to respond, and then denied records without specifying what was withheld or whether there was any information in the withheld documents that could be released, as required by law.
In another instance, the administration denied the release of any records related to the hiring of former state Representative Donald Lally, citing “attorney-client privilege” and an APRA exemption for “working papers.” While the groups said it was reasonable that some documents might not be disclosable, they called the blanket denial of all records “untenable on its face.”
The third incident involves the Executive Office of Health and Human Services’ refusal to release an application filed with the federal government for additional funding for the state’s Unified Health Infrastructure Project. The department claimed the application and related documents were “still in development” despite the fact that the application had already been submitted for approval.
“From our perspective, none of [these responses] occupies a ‘shade of gray’ in interpreting APRA. Rather, precisely because they are so clear-cut, they warrant decisive action on your part in order to address the lackadaisical interest in a strong APRA that the responses embody,” the groups argued in the letter.
Representatives from the organizations said today that by issuing an executive order emphasizing the Administration’s commitment to open government, Gov. Raimondo would better ensure transparency and accountability from state executive agencies.
Linda Lotridge Levin, president of ACCESS/RI, said: “It is incumbent on public officials to make access to public records a priority if they expect to maintain the public’s trust. The instances cited in the letter to the governor show that some public officials choose to remain oblivious to the state’s Access to Public Records Act that mandates that the workings of government remain transparent, accessible and accountable to its citizens. We in ACCESS/RI urge Governor Raimondo to ensure that members of her administration adhere to the law and to respond in a timely manner to all public records requests.”
Steven Brown, ACLU of RI executive director, said: “Governor Raimondo’s first executive order upon taking office addressed compliance with state ethics laws. In passing, it also urged state officers and employees to ‘be mindful of their responsibilities’ under the open records law. Because they have not been mindful, we believe an executive order specifically establishing a presumption of openness in responding to APRA requests will better promote that key responsibility.”
Justin Silverman, executive director of the New England First Amendment Coalition added: “This is an opportunity for Gov. Raimondo to remind those working under her leadership that government transparency is a top priority and that the public’s right to know must be protected. These recent APRA responses are concerning and the governor should make clear that the statute needs to be taken more seriously. Timely responses need to be made and records should be disclosed whenever possible. An executive order to this effect would help build trust between the people of Rhode Island and their elected leaders.”
Jane W. Koster, president of the League of Women Voters of RI, stated: “It is of the utmost importance that the citizens of Rhode Island’s ‘right to know’ be protected and broad citizen participation in government be encouraged. The League of Women Voters of the United States and LWVRI believe that democratic government depends upon informed and active participation at all levels of government. It further believes that governmental bodies protect this ‘right to know’ by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings and making public records accessible. The LWVRI believes that Governor Raimondo will act accordingly and alert all in her administration to comply with APRA going forward.”
A copy of the letter is attached and can be found here.
[This report comes from a press release.]
]]>