Yesterday, the Office of Personnel Management issued two proposed regulations to implement President Obama’s directive, in a memorandum issued in June, that all federal agencies look for ways to extend protections and benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees under their existing authority. At that time, OPM indicated that they planned to expand access to sick and funeral leave, as well as eligibility for the Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP), to the domestic partners of federal employees. Proposedregulations RIN 3206-AL92 (FLTCIP) and 3206-AL93 (sick and funeral leave) would do just that. These two actions were among HRC’s 70-plus recommendations for executive action to the Obama administration in our Blueprint for Positive Change (see sick leave memo [pdf] and long-term care memo [pdf]).
Rulemaking 101 (pdf)
If approved, these regulations will extend important benefits to all federal workers and bring employees with same-sex partners a few steps closer to receiving equal pay for equal work. The proposed regulations are now open for public comment for 60 days (through November 13). OPM will then review the comments and issue a final regulation. HRC will soon be submitting comments in support of these proposed regulations on behalf of our members and supporters. If you want to learn more about how rules are promulgated, here’s a flow chart [pdf].
Of course, there are many more critical benefits – like health insurance and retirement – that can only be extended to federal workers by Congress. Legislation that would remedy this inequity, the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, passed a key House subcommittee in July and HRC continues to work with our allies on the Hill to move those critical protections forward.
Thanks to HRC Chief Legislative Counsel Brian Moulton for this post.
The Human Rights Campaign's perspective on the news, issues and events affecting the every day lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people across the country.
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Yesterday, the Office of Personnel Management issued two proposed regulations to implement President Obama’s directive, 
