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Mon Nov 02, 2009 at 08:37 PM CST
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| The City of Austin has taken another important step in the pursuit of equality. Today, City Manager Marc Ott announced that COBRA+ benefits will be available to the same-sex domestic partners of City employees.
City Manager Marc Ott wrote in a letter to city council and the mayor:
Since COBRA is a federal program, it uses the definition of "spouse" that is defined by the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). DOMA defines the word "spouse" as a husband or wife of the opposite sex. DOMA's definitions apply to all references to "marriage" or "spouse" contained in any federal law, including, without limitation, to COBRA. Thus, COBRA coverage is not extended to same-sex spouses, civil partners, or domestic partners.
In the spirit of the recently approved non-discrimination policy, please see the attached report regarding the City of Austin providing COBRA-Like benefits for domestic partners. Currently we have 228 domestic partners covered by the City's domestic partner benefit. The attached recommended action is consistent with prior council direction and will not increase the FY10 budget.
The Statesman quoted city council member Bill Spelman on the issue.
"I want to offer my deepest thanks to City Manager Marc Ott, the Human Resources staff, and everyone who worked hard so that we could extend this benefit to all our employees. I appreciate the way the staff recognized immediately that this was the right thing to do, and made it happen so quickly when I brought it to their attention," said Council Member Spelman.
This is the right thing to do and it is good to see our council and city treating every person fairly and equally. |
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