05 LC 21
8032/AP
House
Bill 67 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By:
Representative Ehrhart of the
36th,
Willard of the
49th,
Martin of the
47th,
Jennings of the
82nd,
Lunsford of the
110th,
and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 1 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to state government in general, so as to provide for neutrality of state law
with respect to freedom of decision to provide or not provide certain benefits
to unmarried persons; to provide that state and local government entities shall
comply with such policy of neutrality; to provide for related matters; to
provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
1 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state
government in general, is amended by adding at its end a new Code Section 50-1-8
to read as follows:
"50-1-8.
(a)
It is the policy of this state that any organization or person in this state may
elect to, or elect not to, contractually provide to unmarried persons one or
more benefits, rights, or privileges in the same manner that such organization
or person contractually provides benefits, rights, or privileges to married
persons.
(b)
State and local government shall not impose any penalty on or withhold any
benefits, rights, or privileges from any organization or person on the basis of
such
organizatiońs
or
persońs
election to or election not to contractually or otherwise provide to unmarried
persons one or more benefits, rights, or privileges in the same manner that such
organization or person contractually or otherwise provides benefits, rights, or
privileges to married persons.
(c)
Subsection (b) of this Code section shall apply to the state and any political
subdivision of the state and to any department, agency, authority, commission,
or other entity of the state or any political subdivision of the
state.
(d)
As used in this Code section, the term 'organization' includes but is not
limited to any corporation, association, nonprofit organization, limited
liability company, partnership, group, authority, or other entity, including any
political subdivision of this
state."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.