While Arizona state employees await a final decision on a proposed rule change that would allow them to include their domestic partner and their children in their employee benefits, some members of the Arizona Legislature are working to take those benefits away.

Introduced by Senators Pamela Gorman (R-6) and Jack Harper (R-4) and Representative Steven Yarbrough (R-21), along with a host of co-sponsors, SB 1499 would create a state law that would prevent state agencies from extending partner benefits to their employees.

Send a message today to your Senator, urging them to protect Arizona's children and families, and oppose SB 1499.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

SB 1499 is rapidly coming up for a vote on the floor of the Senate. As your constituent, I urge you to vote against the bill.

As you may know, the ADOA has proposed a rule change to strengthen the families of state employees. If SB 1499 were to pass, state employees would not be able to include their domestic partner and their children in healthcare benefits.

Everyone knows that offering domestic partner benefits is good for business. Doing so allows employers to recruit and retain the most talented employees, reducing costs associated with hiring and recruitment while increasing worker productivity.

State employees should be able to protect their families by enrolling their partner and their children on their benefits plan. An overwhelming majority of Arizonans agree. In fact, of the 1,428 letters, emails and faxes submitted to the ADOA during the public comment period of the proposed administrative rule change, 91% were in favor of granting domestic partner benefits to state employees.

Please keep Arizona families strong and healthy and oppose SB 1499.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 05, 2008