Equality Fairfax

2007 General Assembly Legislative Update

Although we expected movement on most of the remaining legislation that Equality Virginia is tracking this session, we saw votes only on two measures this week — the anti-GSA bill and a bill to allow local governments to offer the health care plans they wish to to their employees. 

Check below for important updates, and then take action! To send free emails on the measures below, go to Equality Virginia’s Advocacy Center today! You can also call the Constituent otline at 1-800-889-0229. 

Below are measures that Equality Virginia Opposes (click on the bill number to view the full text of the bill):

HB 1727  Local school board; student organizations.   Del. Matthew Lohr . This bill would require that local school boards obtain express written permission from a parent or legal guardian before any student becomes a member of or attends the meeting of a non-curriculum-related student organization. Designed to suppress participation in Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs), this bill could prevent at-youth risk from being able to participate in a critical support network, and would provide an unnecessary and costly bureaucratic burden on school boards and educators.

URGENT UPDATE

Although this bill was DEFEATED in the House Education Committee on Wednesday, January 17, Del. Phil Hamilton made a motion on Monday, January 22 to have the bill “reconsidered”.  It was then amended to be a mandatory “opt-out” measure, which Equality Virginia still opposes.  The bill is expected to be voted on in the full House on Monday, January 29.  

Please take a moment to  write your Delegate today and urge them to continue to oppose this measure!  

HB 3047  School boards; notification of parent when student participates in school-sponsored clubs. Del. Mark Cole.  This bill, similar to HB 1727, would mandate all students receive permission slips for every school group they may wish to join. 

This measure was rolled into HB 1727 at last Monday’s House Education Committee Meeting.

EqualityVirginia Supports These Following Measures:

SB 820/SB 1310 andHB 2550 Nondiscrimination in public employment.  Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, Sens. Louise Lucas and Mamie Locke and Del.Adam Ebbin. Prohibits employment discrimination for state workers on the basis of sexual orientation.

URGENT ACTION: The vote in the Senate General Laws Committee was postponed to Wednesday, January 31.  Please take a moment to send a  free email to the members of this committee! 

SB 1242 Health insurance program; provision for employees by locality. Senator Mary Margaret Whipple.

This bill would allow any locality that is self-insured to extend coverage under their health care program to any class of persons that may be mutually agreed upon by the locality and the policy holder.

This bill should be voted on in the Senate on Monday, January 29. Write your Senator today and urge them to support this legislation.

HB 2252 Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation. Del. Katherine Waddell.  States that the City of Richmond may enact an ordinance on the basis of sexual orientation.

HB 2598 Urban county executive form of government; commission on human rights. Del. Kenneth Plum  Adds “sexual orientation” as prohibited discrimination in a county with the urban county executive form of government (Fairfax County).

HB 2730 Hospital regulations; authorized visitor designation for hospital visitation. Del. David Englin. Requires hospitals to develop regulations allowing patients to designate any individual as next of kin for visitation purposes and to change the designation at any time.

This bill should be heard before a House Health, Welfare and Institutions subcommittee next week.  Write members of this committee today!

HJ 678 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); marriage. Del. Adam Ebbin.  Proposes to amend the so-called “marriage amendment”, by referendum at the November 2008 election.  This proposed amendment would add a “savings clause” protecting rights, benefits, obligations or status for unmarried persons not already abridged.

This bill was “passed by indefinitely” in the House Privileges and Elections Committee on Friday, January 19.

HJ 721 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); marriage. Del. David Englin.  This measure would repeal the so-called “marriage amendment” by referendum at the November 2008 election. 

This measure was also ”passed by indefinitely” in the House Priviliges and Elections Committee on Friday, January 19. 

2007 General Assembly Legislative Update

Both during and after a very successful Lobby Day, this past week saw action on several key pieces of legislation that Equality Virginia is monitoring and lobbying for.  Updates are highlighted for you below.  Please take action on the urgent items today! 

To send free emails on the measures below, go to Equality Virginia’s Advocacy Center today! You can also call the Constituent otline at 1-800-889-0229. 

Below are measures that Equality Virginia Opposes (click on the bill number to view the full text of the bill):

HB 1727  Local school board; student organizations.   Del. Matthew Lohr . This bill would require that local school boards obtain express written permission from a parent or legal guardian before any student becomes a member of or attends the meeting of a non-curriculum-related student organization. Designed to suppress participation in Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs), this bill could prevent at-youth risk from being able to participate in a critical support network, and would provide an unnecessary and costly bureaucratic burden on school boards and educators.

This bill was DEFEATED in the House Education Committee on Wednesday, January 17!  Thanks to everyone who wrote to members of this committee, and attended the hearing!  If you have not yet done so, please take a moment to  thank those members who voted against this measure.

HB 3047  School boards; notification of parent when student participates in school-sponsored clubs. Del. Mark Cole.  This bill, similar to HB 1727, would mandate all students receive permission slips for every school group they may wish to join. 

URGENT ACTION REQUESTED! Please c ontact members of the House Education Committee again TODAY and urge them to oppose this measure. Click here to send a free email. 

EqualityVirginia Supports These Following Measures:

SB 820/SB 1310 andHB 2550 Nondiscrimination in public employment.  Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis, Sens. Louise Lucas and Mamie Locke and Del.Adam Ebbin. Prohibits employment discrimination for state workers on the basis of sexual orientation.

URGENT ACTION: The Senate versions of this measure are expected to come before the Senate General Laws Committee on Wedensday, January 24th.  Please take a moment to send a  free email to the members of this committee! 

HB 2252 Prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation. Del. Katherine Waddell.  States that the City of Richmond may enact an ordinance on the basis of sexual orientation.

HB 2598 Urban county executive form of government; commission on human rights. Del. Kenneth Plum  Adds “sexual orientation” as prohibited discrimination in a county with the urban county executive form of government (Fairfax County).

HB 2730 Hospital regulations; authorized visitor designation for hospital visitation. Del. David Englin. Requires hospitals to develop regulations allowing patients to designate any individual as next of kin for visitation purposes and to change the designation at any time.

HJ 678 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); marriage. Del. Adam Ebbin.  Proposes to amend the so-called “marriage amendment”, by referendum at the November 2008 election.  This proposed amendment would add a “savings clause” protecting rights, benefits, obligations or status for unmarried persons not already abridged.

This bill was “passed by indefinitely” in the House Privileges and Elections Committee on Friday, January 19.

HJ 721 Constitutional amendment (first resolution); marriage. Del. David Englin.  This measure would repeal the so-called “marriage amendment” by referendum at the November 2008 election. 

This measure was also ”passed by indefinitely” in the House Priviliges and Elections Committee on Friday, January 19. 

ATTEMPT TO BAR GAY/STRAIGHT ALLIANCES - OPPOSE – DEFEATED!
HB 1727 (LOHR)/HB 3047 (COLE) 

• HB 1727/HB 3047 are unnecessary. School Boards in Virginia already have ample authority to involve parents in the choices students make about clubs. Those school boards that wish to institute permission-slip programs, despite the risks and difficulties they entail, have done so. In the circumstances, mandatory statewide imposition of new and expensive bureaucratic requirements on local school divisions is unnecessary and unwise.

• The Bill Improperly Targets Gay Straight Alliances. The hidden purpose behind HB 1727/HB 3047 is to attack Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs), which promote tolerance and address school bullying and harassment.

STATUS - HB 1727 DEFEATED in Committee. HB 3047 rolled into HB 1727. Bill re-drafted as either opt-out or opt-in, which is less onerous for schools and students. Passed in new form in House by vote 82-15. Now goes to Senate for action. DEFEATED in Senate Committee by vote 9-6. Bill is finished for the year.

SUPPORT ENDING EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION - SUPPORT – DEFEATED
SB 820 (DEVOLITES DAVIS)/ SB 1310 (LUCAS/LOCKE) AND HB 2550 (EBBIN)

• Governor Tim Kaine issued Executive Order 1 on his first day in office to protect state employees from workplace discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation or disability. It is now time to make this policy permanent and extend it to all in the state workforce.

• It is a fundamental American and Virginian value that people who do their jobs, pay their taxes and contribute to their communities should not be singled out for unfair workplace discrimination. 87% of Virginians agree that gay men and lesbians have a right to be protected from workplace discrimination, and 90% said gay and lesbian Virginians should have the right to work for the government.

STATUS - SB 820 was defeated in Committee by a vote of 8-7. HB2550 did not get out of its Committee. Both bills are finished for the session.

LOCAL HEALTH INSURANCE BILL - SUPPORT – DEFEATED
SB 1242 (WHIPPLE)

• Unlike many of their peers in the private sector, local government employees cannot extend health care coverage for others outside of a married spouse and dependent children, even if they choose to do so.

• It has become commonplace for employers to offer extended coverage to employees and those they wish to insure. Over half of the Fortune 500 companies choose to offer such benefits to their employees. In order to compete for the best employees, localities should have the right to offer the benefits they feel would be necessary.

STATUS - Passed Senate by a vote 36-4. Now goes to the House for action. Passed House Committee by vote 11-10. In a procedural move, sent back to another House Committee where it was killed in Subcommittee by a vote of 4-1. The bill is finished for the session.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ADD SEXUAL ORIENTATION- SUPPORT – DEFEATED
HB 2252 (WADDELL)/ HB 2598 (PLUM)

• These two bills would allow Richmond City (2252) and Fairfax County (2598) the right to add “sexual orientation” to their local non-discrimination ordinances and policies.

STATUS – HB 2598 passed out of Sub-Committee by a vote of 3-2; defeated in Committe by a vote of 13-9; HB 2252 defeated in Committee by a vote of 13-8. Both are finished for the session.

HOSPITAL VISITATION RIGHTS - SUPPORT – PASSED!
HB 2730 (ENGLIN)

• This bill would help protect families and loved ones by requiring that hospitals develop regulations allowing patients to designate any person as next of kin for visitation purposes.

STATUS - Passed out of Sub-Committee unanimously. Passed out of Committee unanimously — 11-0. Passed House by a vote of 97-0-1. Passed Senate Committee by vote of 15-0. Passed by full Senate with unanimous vote of 40-0.

AMEND OR REPEAL SO-CALLED “MARRIAGE AMENDMENT” - SUPPORT – DEFEATED
HJ 678 (EBBIN)/HJ 721 (ENGLIN)

• HJ 678 would add a “savings clause” to allow for some protections for unmarried couples not otherwise abridged by the amendment, such as hospital visitation rights or contract rights.

• HJ 721 would outright repeal the Marshall/Newman amendment from the Virginia Constitution.STATUS - HJ 678 and HJ 721 were passed by indefinitely in Committee, which means they won’t progress any further this session, in effect finished this year.

Wednesday Was a Good Day for Equality

On Wednesday, January 17, over 200 Equality Virginia members and supporters attended the annual Lobby Day and Legislative Reception in Richmond.

The day started off with the good news that the Anti-GSA bill, HB 1727 (Del. Matt Lohr, R-Harrisonburg), was defeated in the House Education Committee by a tie vote of 10-10.  Please take a moment today to thank the members of the Committee who voted against this misinformed bill by clicking here.

(Unfortunately, there is one other similar bill, HB 3047 patroned by Del. Mark Cole [R-Fredericksburg] that is expected to be heard by the same committee in the next week or two. The thank you letter references this bill, so please keep in touch with committee members and help keep gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied youth from being prevented from being able to start or participate in GSAs)

After a brief training with Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (R-Vienna) speaking to the volunteers, participants spent most of the rest of the day meeting with legislators and their aides from across the Commonwealth to encourage them to support legislation that will protect our rights and our families.

The day was capped off with an incredible Legislative Reception, with nearly three dozen Delegates and Senators stopping by and brief remarks from Del. Adam Ebbin (D-Arlington).  We also had a visit from the Governor, who mingled with the crowd getting to meet many of our volunteers.  It was a wonderful way to wind down after a good day.

A special thanks to everyone who was able to attend Lobby Day and/or the Legilsative Reception, who participated in E-Lobby Day, who wrote the Education Committee members, or forwarded any of the information on to their friends, family and colleagues.

We will continue to track and monitor all legislation affecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Virginians, so stay-tuned and keep involved!  Your help will continued to be needed during this session and beyond!  

Can’t Join Us in Richmond Today?  E-Lobby!

Today, nearly 250 supporters of fairness and equality will be coming to Richmond to participate in Lobby Day.  However, we know that not everyone could get the day off from work to join us, so please take just a moment today to make sure you add your voice to ours by participating in e-Lobby Day!

Click here  to send a free email. 

You will be communicating EV’s position on all the priority bills facing the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, the same as everyone who will be in Richmond.  These include:

ATTEMPT TO BAR GAY/STRAIGHT ALLIANCES - OPPOSE

HB 1727 (LOHR)/HB 3047 (COLE)

HB 1727 Is Unnecessary.  School Boards in Virginia already have ample authority to involve parents in the choices students make about clubs. Those school boards that wish to institute permission-slip programs, despite the risks and difficulties they entail, have done so.  In the circumstances, mandatory statewide imposition of new and expensive bureaucratic requirements on local school divisions is unnecessary and unwise.

The Bill Improperly Targets Gay Straight Alliances.  The hidden purpose behind HB 1727 is to attack Gay Straight Alliances (GSA s), which promote tolerance and address school bullying and harassment.

SUPPORT ENDING EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION - SUPPORT
SB 820 (DEVOLITES DAVIS)/ SB 1310 (LUCAS/LOCKE) AND HB 2550 (EBBIN)

Governor Tim Kaine issued Executive Order 1 on his first day in office to protect state employees from workplace discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation or disability. It is now time to make this policy permanent and extend it to all in the state workforce.

It is a fundamental American and Virginian value that people who do their jobs, pay their taxes and contribute to their communities should not be singled out for unfair workplace discrimination. 87% of Virginians agree that gay men and lesbians have a right to be protected from workplace discrimination, and 90% said gay and lesbian Virginians should have the right to work for the government.

LOCAL   HEALTH INSURANCE BILL - SUPPORT
SB 1242 (WHIPPLE)

Unlike many of their peers in the private sector, local government employees cannot extend health care coverage for others outside of a married spouse and dependent children, even if they choose to do so.

It has become commonplace for employers to offer extended coverage to employees and those they wish to insure.  Over half of the Fortune 500 companies choose to offer such benefits to their employees.  In order to compete for the best employees, localities should have the right to offer the benefits they feel would be necessary.  

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ADD SEXUAL ORIENTATION - SUPPORT
HB 2253 (WADDELL)/ HB 2598 (PLUM)

These two bills would allow Richmond City (2253) and Fairfax County (2598) the right to add “sexual orientation” to their local non-discrimination ordinances and policies.

HOSPITAL VISITATION RIGHTS - SUPPORT
HB 2730 (ENGLIN)

This bill would help protect families and loved ones by requiring that hospitals develop regulations allowing patients to designate any person as next of kin for visitation purposes.

AMEND OR REPEAL SO-CALLED “MARRIAGE AMENDMENT” - SUPPORT

HJ 678 (EBBIN)/HJ 721 (ENGLIN)

HJ 678 would add a “savings clause” to allow for some protections for unmarried couples not otherwise abridged by the amendment, such as hospital visitation rights or contract rights.

HJ 721 would outright repeal the Marshall/Newman amendment from the Virginia Constitution.

Marriage Amendment  & The Ballot Question
Today, the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee voted to amend the companion bill to the so-called “marriage amendment” to include the full text of the amendment in the ballot question that voters will likely see this fall.  Earlier versions of the ballot question language were very incomplete in educating voters about the full breadth of the implications of the amendment.

Write to your Senator  today and urge him or her to support “truth in advertising” by voting for this important change to HB 101 when it comes to the Senate floor as early as Thursday or Friday this week.

Protect Non-Discrimination Language in the Virginia Budget
In December, former-Governor Mark Warner included language in his budget to the General Assembly that prohibits discrimination against all Virginia state employees, including based on sexual orientation.

Unfortunately, Del. Mark Cole (R-Fredericksburg) has introduced a budget amendment, 4-6.00#1, that will rescind this language.

Write to the House Appropriations Committee today and urge them to reject this amendment and protect all Virginia employees from discrimination.