Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Politics

California
City Committee Passes On LGBT Protections Measure To Full Council
Councilman Steve Hansen
SACRAMENTO -- The city of Sacramento’s city council Law and Legislative Committee voted 4-0 Tuesday to strengthen its protections against discrimination on the basis of a person’s gender identity, incorporating and augmenting existing protections under state law.
The bill introduced by District 4 Councilmen Steve Hansen, the first openly gay member of the City Council, seeks to amplify, update, and clarify the City Code’s nondiscrimination provisions, as well as to make the code fully consistent with state law, where state laws are stronger.
The legislation will now move to the full City Council for consideration. The vote has yet to be scheduled for the council's legislative calender.
Key changes in the legislation are focused on adding gender identity and expression consistently throughout the code and requiring that city employees’ health plans comply with requirements of state law ensuring non-discrimination in health insurance for transgender individuals.
The legislation also adds broadly inclusive nondiscrimination clauses to provisions of the City Code relating to City contracts; City programs; services and activities; alcoholic beverage licenses; and more—making even clearer that there is no place in Sacramento for discrimination or intolerance.
"I'm proud to see the city of Sacramento taking another step towards treating all people equally," said Hansen. “This legislation ensures that our residents and workers are fully protected from discrimination.”
In addition to his work in introducing this ordinance, Hansen has already worked with city officials and staff to implement other recommendations contained in the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index. As a result the City has appointed an LGBT liaison, actively worked to recruit LGBT employees and increased its participation in the LGBT community Pride Parade.
“Advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people is a critical component of creating a just society,” said NCLR Senior Legislative and Policy Strategist Geoff Kors. “The city of Sacramento has taken a big step towards reaching this goal, and has set a strong example for others to follow."
With the passage of this legislation, all health plans offered by the city would comply with the Insurance Gender Nondiscrimination Act, of the California Health and Safety Code.
Additionally, Health plans offered by the city would not discriminate against individuals because of their gender, including gender identity and gender expression, and may not limit or exclude benefits or coverage on those, or any other unlawful basis.

1 comments:

Unknown said...

Yes!!! Health plans offered by the city would not discriminate against individuals because of their gender, including gender identity and gender expression, and may not limit or exclude benefits or coverage on those, or any other unlawful basis.

Regards,
Health And Safety Consultant Peterborough