New Laws that went into effect in California on Jan. 1, 2006, to grant additional rights to domestic partners
Civil Rights Act of 2005
(AB 1400, Laird, D-Santa Cruz)
The Civil Rights Act of 2005, which amends the Unruh Civil Rights Act, adds sexual orientation, gender and marital status to California’s public accommodation non-discrimination laws. Businesses subject to this law include, but are not limited to, shopping centers, mobile home parks, bars and restaurants, schools, medical and dental offices, hotels and motels, and condominium homeowners' associations.
Insurance Gender Non-Discrimination Act
(AB 1586, Koretz, D-West Hollywood)
The Insurance Gender Non-Discrimination Act, which prohibits insurance companies and health-care service plans from discriminating on the basis of gender in the creation or maintenance of service contracts, or the provision of benefits or coverage, establishes California as the first state in the nation to enact these protections for transgender individuals.
Death Benefits Rights for Retired Public Employees Act
(SB 973, Kuehl, D-Santa Monica)
The Death Benefits Rights for Retired Public Employees Act allows domestic partners of public employees who retired prior to Jan. 1, 2005, when California's comprehensive domestic partnership law (AB 205) went into effect, to receive death benefits if the retiree dies before their partner.
Property Tax Reappraisal Exclusion: Domestic Partners
(SB 565, Migden, D-San Francisco)
This law provides that a change in the title of property between domestic partners will be treated the same way a change in title of property between spouses is treated for property tax purposes. As a result, domestic partners will no longer face potentially enormous increases in their property taxes when their partner dies.
Source:
Margaret A. Leonard
Attorney at Law
