H-1772.1  _______________________________________________

 

                          HOUSE BILL 2076

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Boldt and Carrell

 

Read first time 02/19/97.  Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

Prohibiting the use of public funds to provide benefits to domestic partners.


    AN ACT Relating to prohibiting the use of public funds to be used for domestic partner benefits; adding a new section to chapter 41.05 RCW; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  This act may be known and cited as the family protection act.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 41.05 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) Adult persons living in domestic relationships, other than a relationship recognized as a valid marriage within the state of Washington, may not be considered, in law or otherwise, as a legal spouse or as constituting a family for the purpose of qualifying for, or receiving, spousal or marital benefits, privileges, advantages, or entitlements that are paid for, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, with public funds.

    (2) The state of Washington, and its political subdivisions, including counties, cities, towns, school districts, and institutions of higher education, may not enact or enforce any policy that provides adult persons living in domestic relationships, other than a relationship recognized as a valid marriage within the state of Washington, with spousal or marital benefits, privileges, advantages, or entitlements that are paid for, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, with public funds.

    (3) Before entering into a contractual relationship with the state of Washington, or its political subdivisions, including counties, cities, towns, school districts, and institutions of higher education, to provide goods or services of any kind, a private entity must certify that it does not have or implement any policy that provides adult persons, employed by the private entity, who are living in domestic relationships other than a relationship that constitutes a valid marriage within the state of Washington, with spousal or marital benefits, privileges, advantages, or entitlements.

    (4) The state of Washington, and its political subdivisions, including counties, cities, towns, school districts, and institutions of higher education, may not enter into a contractual relationship for the provision of goods or services of any kind with a private entity, until the private entity has certified that it does not, directly or indirectly, have or implement any policy that provides adult persons, employed by the private entity, who are living in domestic relationships, other than a relationship that constitutes a valid marriage within the state of Washington, with spousal or marital benefits, privileges, advantages, or entitlements.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  The provisions of this act are to be liberally construed to effectuate the policies and purposes of this act.  In the event of conflict between this act and any other provision of state law, the provisions of this act shall govern.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4.  If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, morals, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

 


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