New protections for crime victims appear "Women's Equality" bills.

On Oct. 21, New York enacted new laws related to women's rights that deal with a variety of issues, including pay equity and protection of employees from sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination.

Among the new rules, designed to protect crime victims, including victims of sex trafficking, are the following:

The Family Court Act has been amended to allow the Chief Administrator of the Courts to promulgate rules to “establish and implement a pilot program for the filing of petitions for temporary orders of protection by electronic means and for the issuance of such orders ex parte by audio-visual means in order to accommodate litigants for whom attendance at court to file for, and obtain, emergency relief would constitute an undue hardship or to accommodate litigants, for whom traveling to and appearing in the courthouse to obtain emergency relief, creates a risk of harm to such litigant.”

The "Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act," amends and adds many new sections of law. New crimes include aggravated labor trafficking, a class C felony; patronizing a person for prostitution in a school zone, a class E felony; and aggravated patronizing a minor for prostitution, a felony.

These new provisions become effective in 2016.

#DVFree: Implementing the Human Right to be Free from Domestic Violence

A panel discussion will be head Tuesday, October 20th at 12:20 p.m. in Saperston Student Lounge, G65 Myron Taylor Hall, Cornell University:

"#DVFree: Implementing the Human Right to be Free from Domestic Violence in Tompkins County, NY."

Panelists will discuss their work in drafting guidelines for employers to protect victims of domestic violence.

The panel will include Heather Campbell, Executive Director, Advocacy Center of Tompkins County, Alexander Gutierrez, J.D. Candidate and member of the Global Gender Justice Clinic, Carolina Morales, J.D. Candidate and member of the Global Gender Justice Clinic, and Amanda Reynoso-Palley, J.D. Candidate and member of the Global Gender Justice Clinic.

The panel is sponsored by Cornell Law School’s Global Gender Justice Clinic and the Avon Global Center for Women and Justice.

Lunch will be served. Interested attendees should RSVP by Monday, October 19 to Christina Price, cmp265@cornell.edu.

South Seneca Schools to Gain Police Officer

From the Ovid Gazette:

At the Ovid town board meeting Sept. 2, a shared services agreement that will allow Interlaken police chief Leon Anderson to patrol the schools and be their resource officer was

approved. Anderson gave his presentation, then left for a meeting with the South Seneca School Board whose meeting also began at 7 p.m.

His presentation was to inform about the required elements needed to complete the paperwork needed for a School Resource Officer position, which will be new to the school district. Anderson said it would also benefit the village and town of Ovid as well as the Village of Interlaken and the Town of Covert.

He further explained that the agreement, which comes at no cost to the villages or the towns, has been reviewed by the town attorney, Steven Getman, and Barry Porsch, District Attorney, to make sure that it meets all of the criteria.

The purpose of the SRO (School Resource Officer) position is “to protect our most vulnerable residents: in our community – our children and our schools. Tonight I am looking to the board to sign the Shared Services Agreement which is before you. If you have questions, I will answer them.”

State Appellate Court to hold session at Cornell

The New York State Supreme Court’s Appellate Division will be hearing oral arguments in Cornell Law School’s Moot Court Room from 9:30 am to noon on Thursday, October 22.

Arguments are open to the public.

Following adjournment, the justices attending will hold a short question and answer period regarding the proceedings.

Summaries of the cases to be argued have been provided by the court for informational purposes. They include cases of potential local interest to Finger Lakes residents.

For more information, click here.