Sacramento, California -
Groundbreaking legislation has been passed that prevents the state of California from doing business with companies that do not provide domestic partner benefits to employees.
The bill was the final piece of legislation in the fall session of the state government. It now goes to governor Gray Davis for his signature.
AB 17, authored by Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Christine Kehoe , (D-San Diego), would prohibit the state from entering into contracts totaling more than $100,000 with businesses that discriminate in benefits between employees with spouses and employees with registered domestic partners. It makes California e the first state in the nation to enact equal benefits legislation.
“We are thrilled that the Legislature has committed itself to the principle of equal pay for equal work when tax dollars are being spent,” said Equality California Executive Director Geoffrey Kors , who first conceived of the idea of equal benefits legislation seven years ago.
“The State treats its workers equally, as do over one-third of the businesses making up the Fortune 500,” Kors noted. “There is simply no excuse for the state to be subsidizing companies that discriminate.”
Kehoe and Kors noted that studies have shown that providing equal benefits is a cost-effective practice, presenting little to no increased cost to employers while increasing employee productivity and retention.
"AB 17 is based on a simple premise," said Kehoe, chair of the Legislative LGBT Caucus. "All workers deserve equal compensation. If public tax dollars are spent by public agencies to contract for goods and services, those tax dollars should not subsidize the discriminatory practices of any contractor. This bill assures that these tax dollars and the rights of these workers are protected."
“The LGBT community has scored a grand slam in California this year,” Kors said referring to the passage of laws earlier in the session protecting LGBT foster youth, prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity in employment and housing, and granting domestic partners near equality with married spouses under state law.
by Mark Worrall
365Gay.com Newscenter
San Francisco Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2003
The bill was the final piece of legislation in the fall session of the state government. It now goes to governor Gray Davis for his signature.
AB 17, authored by Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Christine Kehoe , (D-San Diego), would prohibit the state from entering into contracts totaling more than $100,000 with businesses that discriminate in benefits between employees with spouses and employees with registered domestic partners. It makes California e the first state in the nation to enact equal benefits legislation.
“We are thrilled that the Legislature has committed itself to the principle of equal pay for equal work when tax dollars are being spent,” said Equality California Executive Director Geoffrey Kors , who first conceived of the idea of equal benefits legislation seven years ago.
“The State treats its workers equally, as do over one-third of the businesses making up the Fortune 500,” Kors noted. “There is simply no excuse for the state to be subsidizing companies that discriminate.”
Kehoe and Kors noted that studies have shown that providing equal benefits is a cost-effective practice, presenting little to no increased cost to employers while increasing employee productivity and retention.
"AB 17 is based on a simple premise," said Kehoe, chair of the Legislative LGBT Caucus. "All workers deserve equal compensation. If public tax dollars are spent by public agencies to contract for goods and services, those tax dollars should not subsidize the discriminatory practices of any contractor. This bill assures that these tax dollars and the rights of these workers are protected."
“The LGBT community has scored a grand slam in California this year,” Kors said referring to the passage of laws earlier in the session protecting LGBT foster youth, prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity in employment and housing, and granting domestic partners near equality with married spouses under state law.
by Mark Worrall
365Gay.com Newscenter
San Francisco Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2003
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
