North Country Assemblymember Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, has been appointed to a new workgroup being convened to examine various sexual harassment issues and policy solutions.

“Sexual harassment and sexual assault have been swept under the rug for far too long,” Jenne said.

Jenne represents the 116th Assembly District, the so-called “River District.” It covers all St. Lawrence County communities along the St. Lawrence River, in addition to Canton and Potsdam.

“Fortunately, brave women and men across the country have broken their silence and brought the issue to center stage. It’s finally being taken seriously, and this workgroup is part of an ongoing effort to bring change to New York State,” she added.

"We have made positive strides in addressing this issue in the Assembly during my time in Albany, including policy changes that I worked to update, and this is an appropriate next step forward," Jenne said.

The workgroup will be responsible for identifying sexual harassment issues in the workplace and creating policies that help improve workplace environments throughout the state. This includes helping victims come forward without fear of retribution and developing policies that foster a safe workplace for all employees, Assemblywoman Jenne noted.

In 2013, the Assembly undertook an extensive review of its anti-harassment policies and crafted a comprehensive procedure to handle and investigate complaints.

Developed after consulting with nationally recognized experts, the Assembly’s Policy Prohibiting Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation has been widely recognized for its thoughtful approach, and could serve as a template for future legislation.

Under the policy, the Assembly Committee on Ethics and Guidance is authorized to receive, investigate, hear, make findings and recommend disciplinary action against members on complaints alleging a violation of the policy. Additionally, those in supervisory positions, including legislators, are mandatory reporters required to report harassment allegations to the Committee or outside counsel.

Other assemblymembers named to the workgroup by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie were: Helene Weinstein, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Michele Titus, Aileen Gunther, Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Charles Lavine, Matthew Titone, Kenneth Zebrowski, Aravella Simotas, Nily Rozic, Victor Pichardo, Pamela Hunter, Carmen De La Rosa and Monica Wallace.