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By Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin

A tax credit to employers who provide a clean and private space for women to breast-feed a baby.

Requiring all health insurers to cover the cost of contraceptive services.

Teams of police, counselors and experts to review domestic violence and sexual assault cases that result in death.

These are some of the measures the Women's Legislative Caucus -- composed of elected female lawmakers in the 1999 state Legislature -- says are needed to spur women's participation in government.

"We are concerned about the equality of life on all fronts -- taxes, health care, full employment and economic independence, education, job training, civil rights, social services and families," said state Rep. Marilyn B. Lee (D, Mililani), chairwoman of the 17-member caucus.

"This year, each of us has accepted the challenge to secure Hawaii and America's economic future by encouraging policies that enable women to realize their full economic potential, and provide for healthy and secure families."

The caucus yesterday released its package of legislation on issues ranging from economic self-sufficiency to civil rights.

Foremost are economic issues, such as a bill that would prohibit businesses from charging different prices to males and females for the same services, Lee said.

Also on the list is pay equity legislation that corrects and eliminates discriminatory wage practices based on sex, race and/or national origin. Women in Hawaii earn about 76 cents for every dollar earned by a male here, the caucus said.

Besides contraceptive services, other health initiatives are to create an osteoporosis education and treatment program within the state Health Department, and to change coverage for mammograms from biennial tests for women between ages 40 and 49 to annual exams for all women age 40 and older.

Nancy Kriedman, executive director of the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse, said legislative support from the caucus makes a difference.

"We can't do it without you," Kriedman said.

Domestic violence bills proposed by the group include:

Increased penalties for domestic violence committed in the presence of a minor child.

Creation of a petty misdemeanor charge with a 24-hour jail sentence for harassment-type offenses.

Changing the law covering abuse of a household member so police can arrest suspects who have a dating relationship with a victim of violence.