Council Committee To Review EBO Proposal

During tonight’s City Council meeting, openly gay Councilmember Robert Garcia will propose a new ordinance that would require companies and vendors that do business with the city to offer the same employee spousal benefits regardless of whether the employee is in a marriage or a domestic partnership. The City would be directed to only enter into contracts with companies and vendors that offer equal benefit packages for both straight and gay employees.

“Everyone deserves equal treatment in the workplace,” said Councilmember Garcia in a statement. “This is an important step forward for equality and civil rights in Long Beach.”

The Press-Telegram today reports that Garcia will seek review from the Economic Development Committee before proceeding. From columnist John Canalis:

The committee, which is chaired by Councilwoman Rae Gabelich, would solicit input from business, labor, the gay community and other interested parties.

Committee members would then make recommendations to the entire Council, which could direct the city attorney to draft the actual law.

San Francisco was the first jurisdiction in the country to adopt such a requirement, which prompted numerous companies who compete for government contracts to offer benefits to domestic partners. Other cities have since followed suit, including Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, San Francisco, Portland and Minneapolis.

The state of California has an EBO in place, and was the first state in the country to require businesses with large state contracts to offer domestic partners the same benefits that opposite sex spouses have. Under California Assembly Bill 17 (Chapter 752, Statutes of  2003), employers that do business with any agency of the State of California will be required to offer the same benefits to domestic partners as those offered to spouses if they want to be awarded a contract for goods or services worth $100,000 or more. This requirement is effective for contracts executed or amended on or after January 1, 2007, and to bid packages advertised or made available after that date.

The proposed Long Beach EBO ordinance would allow for some exceptions to be made by the City Manager, such as in cases of public emergency, small contracts and other similar circumstances. The ordinance would also not apply to businesses that do not offer spousal benefits.

City staff have indicated that the ordinance can be enacted without any significant revenue or expense to the city. The process would be added to the regular Request for Proposal process that the city already has in place for contracts. Councilmember Suja Lowenthal is co-sponsoring the Equal Benefits Ordinance (EBO). Public comment is welcome and encouraged.