Boca Raton Asked To Consider Domestic Partnership Benefits

(GayWebSource.com) – Boca Raton, Florida – The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council has formally asked the Boca Raton City Council to recognize domestic partners as members of city employees’ immediate families for the purpose of providing equal employment benefits.

The request follows last month’s directive from the City Council to have staff prepare language to update the city’s nondiscrimination policies to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

“Boca Raton City Council Members spoke out last month about moving forward on issues of equality,” said Rand Hoch, president and founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council.  “The next logical step is for the Boca Raton City Council to address equal workplace benefits for employees with domestic partners.”

Earlier this week, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council sent Boca Raton City Council Members a memorandum setting forth specific changes to the city’s personnel rules and regulations concerning employees’ use of sick leave and funeral leave.

Additional information concerning health insurance and the Family Medical Leave Policy is forthcoming, according to Hoch.

“The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council is encouraged by the leadership demonstrated by Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie and by City Council Member Constance Scott,” said Hoch.  “We trust that when the time comes for a formal vote, all of the elected leaders of the City of Boca Raton will take a pro-family position and equalize the benefits offered to city employees and their families.”

The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, a non-profit organization, has been the prime mover for domestic partnership benefits for public employers in Palm Beach County for more than two decades.

As a result of the organization’s efforts, domestic partnership benefits are currently offered by the municipalities of Delray Beach, Jupiter, Lake Worth, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington and West Palm Beach, as well as by Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County School District, the Port of Palm Beach, the Palm Beach County Health Care District, Palm Beach State College, the Children’s Services Council, Palm Tran, Seacoast Utility Authority,  the Solid Waste Authority and all five of Palm Beach County’s constitutional officers.

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