February 22, 2002 Minutes

UC Berkeley

Present
Berkeley: Debi Fidler; Bob Anderson; Jonathan Winters
Davis: Tobias Wolfe
Irvine: Michael Houston; Pat Walsh
Los Angeles: Steve Leider
Merced: John White
Riverside: Nancyjean Tubbs; Natalie Newton
San Diego: Sarah Archibald; Shaun Travers
San Francisco: Shane Snowdon
Santa Barbara: Stacey shears; Gary Reinecke; Steven Escobar; Claudio Dell'oca
Santa Cruz: Deb Abbott; Robert Imada; Patrick Letellier; Chad Sanger
UCOP: Emily Nalven
LLBL: Ted Gartner

Meeting convened at 4:10 p.m.

Domestic Partner Pension & Transgender Health Benefit Update

Chair Shane Snowdon summarized progress on these issues prior to presentation from UCOP representative AVP Judy Boyette.

January Regents' meeting was positive for progress on Domestic Partner (DP) pension issues. UCLGBTIA had asked for action item equalizing same-sex DP benefits at March Regents meeting; this is delayed now until May 2002.

Regents' May meeting set for May 15-16, 2002@ UCLA. UCLGBTIA will organize for March Regents meeting (March 13-14 @ UCSF), but our role will now be more limited as it won't occur when Regents action is taken; may not require as many speakers.

UCLGBTIA will continue to prepare for UCLA Regents meeting, organizing calls for speakers & talking points.

Action item expected from UCOP at May Regents meeting would equalize pensions for same-sex DPs & opposite-sex DPs over 62, in conformance with state DP registry. Possible retroactivity to as far back as January '02 for DPs registered with state. Unclear on how much retroactivity might be allowed. Not likely to apply to annuitants prior to 2002.

Issues to resolve: how UCOP & Benefits will document DP relationship; whether State registry document filing will become mandatory; and status of previous retirees.

UCOP has requested quotes on Transgender health benefits (currently explicitly excluded) from several UC health insurers. This is first step in long, politically sensitive process. Need to provide ongoing information and support to UCOP in this area.

Presentation by UCOP AVP Judy Boyette

Associate Vice President Boyette joined meeting at 4:50 p.m.

She confirmed Chair Snowdon's update about UCOP preparing Regents action item for May on same-sex DP benefits. Regents have asked her for analysis of the financial impact of UCOP's various equity benefits proposals.

Will consider retroactivity of equal same-sex DP benefits to those who were "in system" by March or January 2002, since had hoped for Regents vote in January or March

Might convene task force to advise on implementation of equal benefits; UCB representative Bob Anderson indicated interest in assisting with this.

On Trans health- believes that UC's insurers may be able to provide this coverage at manageable cost.

On systemwide supervisory training-now being developed by Ellie Shindleman, a consultant to Ms. Boyette's office: wants to include LGBT issues. Related an anecdote of a supervisor's gratitude for training on transgender issues provided to systemwide managers by Chair Snowdon.

Extended thanks to UCLGBTIA for this work and coordination with Assistant VP Lubbe Levin on FMLA and other leave issues.

Associate VP Boyette departed at approximately 5:15 p.m.

Housing

UCOP Senior VP Mullinix has sent a letter to Chancellors and Regents modifying Family Housing Eligibility to permit same-sex DPs. Since his letter was sent, UCI and UCLA have modified housing policies to permit same-sex DPs.

UCB has yet to announce whether it will change policies.

Use of State registry as requisite may not be a concern. Semantical issues; does state form equate 'living together' with 'sharing common residence'?

Concern rose over the matter of out-of-state students coming to UC; may qualify as DPs but be coming from a state/municipality where they could not register as a couple.

Need to assist housing departments and assignments officers to coordinate the implementation.

UCOP Changes to FMLA & Holiday/sick leave/reasonable accommodation

FMLA proposal from UCOP has been reviewed by campus HR departments and should be implemented in next months.

DPs will be added to policy on use of sick leave, per new state law (AB 25).

UCOP also announced this in memo proposed changes to 'reasonable accommodation' ADA guidelines and designation of UC's "spring holiday" as Cesar Chavez Day, observed on the last Friday in March.

UCD coordinator position

UCD coordinator position revised upwards to Student Affairs Officer III (SAO III) after letter sent by UCLGBTIA. Job is still open; applications may be submitted through March 22.

UCD Law Professor Tobias Wolf gave update on this & UCD situation. UCD LGBTRC still housed under Cross-Cultural center. Discussion of structural reorganization to make LGBTRC separate unit, peer to Cross-Cultural Center.

Search committee for selecting Coordinator has been formed and had first meeting. Concerns of CAC fund at UCD; cut by 25%---more weight placed on LGBTRC.

General Assembly

Constitutional Amendment will be voted on regarding the proposed Student Chair position.

There was a discussion about the need to groom candidates for the student chair position.

Post has been somewhat nebulous for Vice Chair Imada, who has been first student in a co-chair position.

Interested in seeing a "job description" that may include contacting student regent delegate; identifying the student issues; being in touch with the UCSA groups; developing student activism, etc.

John White from Merced asked future conference planning committees to try to integrate Steering Committee meeting and General Assembly into the annual conference in an optimal way, i.e. timing, placement, priority, access and availability. Nancy Tubbs from UC Riverside stated that the Riverside conference planning committee would be sensitive to the issue.

Feb. 21-23, 2003 14th Annual Conference "Coming Home Queer" at UC Riverside.

http://cominghomequeer.ucr.edu
Begun organizing to make their conference happen.
Committee not yet convened, but website & preliminary work begun.

Special Presentation

Secretary Winters made a special presentation to current and former Chairs Snowdon, Imada & Sanger of a ceramic plate as a gift from the Domestic Partner of a UC Riverside Annuitant. Louis Pedrotti & Ed Traynor have been Domestic Partners for 43 years. The conference weekend coincided with Louis' 78th birthday.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:05 p.m.