BY CARLI TEPROFF, CTEPROFF@MIAMIHERALD.COM
Any companies doing work for the city of Hallandale Beach may soon be required to offer domestic partnership benefits to their employees if they provide equivalent benefits to married couples.
On Wednesday, the commission will decide whether to beef up its procurement code to match Broward County and several other cities that will hire only companies that offer equal rights to all employees.
“Everyone should be treated equally,” said Hallandale Beach Vice Mayor Alexander Lewy, who is sponsoring the requirement.
“I do not support spending our tax dollars on companies that discriminate based on whether you can or cannot be married,” Lewy said.
Hallandale Beach began offering equal benefits to domestic partners in 2006.
Wednesday’s proposal — which applies to businesses with five or more employees, and for contracts over $100,000 — comes on the heels of Hallandale Beach becoming what is believed to be the first in the nation to offer a tax reimbursement to employees in domestic partnerships.
In November, the commission agreed to give employees with domestic partners what could amount to be between $500 and $900 to offset federal taxes that the employee pays on benefits for a partner.
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