Equal Rights for Shackin' Up?/ Claudia Paredes

State Senator form San Francisco, Carole Migden, has reintroduced a bill that would allow heterosexual couples over the age of 18 to register as domestic partners and acquire access to family health insurance plans, stepparent adoption rights, family leave programs and hospital and jail visitation rights. Currently, only homosexual and older couples (at least one member is over the age of 62) are able to register as domestic partners.

Senator Migden states that this bill is a sign of the times, as more and more heterosexual couples are choosing to live together but are not getting married. While conservative groups are contending that this bill would strike another blow to the institution of marriage, Senator Migden maintains that she would like to see straight couples and families with the same rights as gay couples and families.

Link: http://www.contracostatimes.com/bayandstate/ci_8519351?nclick_check=1

Oxnard Assemblyman Proposes Hate Crimes Bill for Schools/ Claudia Paredes

In reaction to a hate crime in Oxnard, Assemblyman Mike Eng is introducing a bill to establish a pilot program that will aim to prevent hate crimes in schools. He is asking from up to $150,000 to create a pilot program that would include diversity and sensitivity awareness and education in schools statewide. This bill also includes protocol for teachers and administrators to contact law enforcement when they become aware of student harassment that may result in a hate crime. Currently, there are laws in place where teachers and counselors can report sexual impropriety with youth, but there are no procedures for reporting possible violent hate crimes.

Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-hate19feb19,1,1017789.story?ctrack=3&cset=true