Public employment; prohibits discrimination on basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. (SB783)
Introduced By
Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) with support from co-patron Del. Mark Levine (D-Alexandria)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✗ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Nondiscrimination in public employment. Prohibits discrimination in public employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, as defined in the bill. The bill also codifies for state and local government employment the current prohibitions on discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, or status as a veteran. Read the Bill »
Outcome
History
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 07/18/2016 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17100116D |
| 08/18/2016 | Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology |
| 01/22/2017 | Impact statement from DPB (SB783) |
| 01/23/2017 | Reported from General Laws and Technology (12-Y 3-N) (see vote tally) |
| 01/25/2017 | Constitutional reading dispensed (40-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
| 01/26/2017 | Read second time and engrossed |
| 01/27/2017 | Read third time and passed Senate (25-Y 14-N) (see vote tally) |
| 01/31/2017 | Placed on Calendar |
| 01/31/2017 | Read first time |
| 01/31/2017 | Referred to Committee on General Laws |
| 02/06/2017 | Assigned GL sub: Subcommittee #4 |
| 02/14/2017 | Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting (2-Y 4-N) |
| 02/21/2017 | Left in General Laws |
Video
This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 3 clips in all, totaling 1 minute.
Transcript
This is a transcript of the video clips in which this bill is discussed.
Sen. Dick Saslaw (D-Springfield): THIS BILL IS ACCURATELY DESCRIBED SCRIBED BY THE SENATOR FROM RICHMOND. IN THE PAST HAS BEEN USED TO COME DOWN PRETTY HARD ON THE MINORITY COMMUNITY IN THE STATE.
[Unknown]: RELATING TO PARK AUTHORITY LIABILITY, IMMUNITY. THE SENATOR FROM WESTERN FAIRFAX COUNTY, SENATOR MARSDEN.
Sen. Dave Marsden (D-Burke): THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THAT THE BILL PASS AND SPEAKING TO THE MEASURE.
[Unknown]: THE SENATOR HAS THE FLOOR.
Sen. Dave Marsden (D-Burke): THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. THE LEGISLATION GRANTS PARK AUTHORITIES THE SAME PROTECTION FROM LIABILITY AND CIVIL ACTIONS THAT CITIES, COUNTIES AND TOWNS CURRENTLY HAS FOR THEIR PARK, THE PURPOSE OF THIS LEGISLATION
Sen. Dick Black (R-Leesburg): IT WAS THE WORST OF ALL TIMES THAT I HAVE LIVED THROUGH, AND I JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE IT AGAIN, AND I THINK THAT PROCEEDING DOWN THIS ROUTE TAKES US IN THAT DIRECTION. THANK YOU.
[Unknown]: THANK YOU, SENATOR. THE SENIOR SENATOR FROM FAIRFAX COUNTY, SENATOR SASLAW.
Sen. Dick Saslaw (D-Springfield): MR. PRESIDENT, HE MUST HAVE BEEN IN A DIFFERENT ARMY THAN I WAS IN. I DON'T REMEMBER IN THE TWO
Comments
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports this bill that would for the first time codify explicit protections against discrimination by state and local agencies, including schools, and constitutional officers based on discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or status as a veteran.
The ACLU of Virginia strongly supports this bill that would for the first time codify explicit protections against discrimination by state and local agencies, including schools, and constitutional officers based on discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or status as a veteran.
In its hiring and firing practices, the government ought to make decisions based solely on one's ability to do the job. This legislation would protect LGBT civil servants from discrimination and send the message that Virginia is inclusive, attracting talent and further advancing Virginia's reputation as a good place to do business.