Legislation 2204

Virginia SB 51

This bill would allow the governing body of any locality that self-funds a health insurance program for its employees to extend coverage to any class of persons mutually agreed to by the locality and the policyholder.

Virginia HB 283

This bill would require schools to provide notice to parents of students receiving abstinence-only education stating that such education does not conform to Board of Education family life education guidelines in which information on preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases is also included.

Oklahoma SB 1489

This bill would amend existing law regarding sex education to require school district superintendents to make a good faith effort to ensure the curriculum and materials used are scientifically accurate.

New York A.B. 3496

This bill would authorize the commissioner of education to establish policies and procedures prohibiting harassment of and discrimination against students in public schools based on, among other things, actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender.

The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993

The Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act (H.R. 2792) would expand the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to permit an employee to take up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave from work if his or her domestic partner or same-sex spouse has a serious health condition.

Tax Equity for Health Plan Beneficiaries

Currently, the Internal Revenue Code excludes from income the value of employer-provided insurance premiums and benefits received by employees for coverage of an employee’s spouse and dependents, but does not extend this treatment to coverage of domestic partners or other persons who do not qualify as a "dependent" (such as certain grown children living at home who are covered under a parent’s plan or children who receive coverage through a grandparent or parent’s domestic partner).

The Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act

This bill would provide domestic partnership benefits to all federal civilian employees on the same basis as spousal benefits. These benefits, available for both same- and opposite-sex domestic partners of federal employees, would include participation in applicable retirement programs, compensation for work injuries and life and health insurance benefits.