From: Ellen McCormick Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 16:40:40 Subject: CA: LIFE Lobby Action Alert and Update For Immediate Release: Contacts: Ellen McCormick, Legislative Advocate Laurie McBride, Executive Director Sam Catalano, Legislative Assistant LIFE: California's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and HIV/AIDS Lobby UPDATE: AB 424 (BALDWIN) ACTION ALERT: AB 1059 (MIGDEN) UPDATE: AB 424 (BALDWIN) PASSES SENATE COMMITTEE WITH SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENTS Another bizarre day in the Capitol. Could it be that Assembly Member Steve Baldwin is now authoring a gay/lesbian civil rights bill? AB 424, the bill that would prohibit California State Universities and California Community Colleges from removing their armed forces training units, military recruiting or ROTC programs, was heard in the Senate Education Committee today. The bill had already been amended to exclude all University of California campuses. In a very chaotic and confusing argument between proponents and opponents; between the Committee Chair, Leroy Greene, and the lobbyist for the California State Universities; and between the American Legion and LIFE Lobby; the end result appears to be that the bill's author, Mr. Baldwin, has agreed to two amendments. One amendment would include that ROTC programs cannot discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation (actual wording has not yet been produced), the other amendment would allow local academic planning processes to decide if in fact the ROTC program should be removed. Both amendments (at this point) satisfy LIFE's concerns with AB 424. AB 424 passed out of the Senate Education Committee without opposition pending Mr. Baldwin's adding the amendments. If the bill is ultimately enacted into law with these amendments, there could be some interesting fights between the California ROTC (which could no longer discriminate against gay and lesbian students) and the U.S. Department of Defense (which requires discrimination against gays and lesbians). Go figure. (Commentary from Sam Catalano, Legislative Assistant) ACTION ALERT: AB 1059 (MIGDEN) SUPPORT LETTERS NEEDED! HEARING DATE: JULY 2, 1997 LOCATION: Senate Insurance Committee (California State Senate) CALL, WRITE, FAX OR EMAIL ALL MEMBERS OF THE SENATE INSURANCE COMMITTEE ASAP! The members of the committee are at the bottom of the page, and for those that have email addresses I've included them. Beyond email, it is also effective to call or write/fax letters: phone numbers, fax numbers (as well as bill text) are available at and all members can be written to at: The Honorable (Name here) California State Senate State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 SAMPLE LETTER ON AB 1059: June 25, 1997 The Honorable Herschel Rosenthal Chair, Senate Insurance Committee State Capitol, Room 4070 Sacramento, CA 95814 Re: Assembly Bill 1059 (Migden) Health coverage: domestic partners. SUPPORT Dear Senator Rosenthal, I am writing to register my support for AB 1059, by Assembly Member Carole Migden. This measure would require health care service plans (Health Maintenance Organizations, for example) to provide domestic partner health coverage options as they provide spousal coverage options to contracting employers. In practical terms, AB 1059 allows small employers contracting with a health care service plan to offer coverage - if they so choose - to an employee's domestic partner. In no way is AB 1059 a mandate on employers to offer domestic partner coverage to their employees. AB 1059 simply allows an employer the option of making domestic partner coverage available to its employees through the employer’s chosen health care service plan. Currently, many large businesses have the ability to negotiate directly with their health care service plans and receive domestic partner health coverage for their employees. Yet, many small businesses who wish to offer domestic partner benefits find their hands tied because their health service plan will not allow coverage. Thus, the employer is not able to provide for their employees as they choose to. AB 1059 is a fair measure that allows employers to decide what is best for their own company. I strongly urge your "yes" vote on AB 1059. Sincerely, cc: All Members, Senate Insurance Committee: The Honorable Ross Johnson no email address The Honorable Teresa Hughes The Honorable Patrick Johnston The Honorable Tim Leslie The Honorable John Lewis The Honorable Steve Peace The Honorable Adam Schiff The Honorable Byron Sher This message was brought to you by: LIFE: California's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and HIV/AIDS Lobby 926 J Street, Suite 522 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 444-0424 For more information about LIFE Lobby please go to our web page at