Sometimes the most unexpected ingredients turn out so delicious! The fridge is pretty bare for the fixings for potato soup. Being hungry, I skipped the baked potato soup and put a pot of potatos on and boiled them until they were mush. Scrounged through the fridge and tossed in all vegetables....cut up celery, carrots, broccoli, onions and boiled. Then added a little milk and lots of Montery Jack cheese--maybe 1 1/2 cup. Cooked everything smooth and then added about 3/4 cup cream. From start to finish, the time couldn't have been more than 45 mins!
Grabbed a diet decaf pepsi and sat down with my soup. What a blessing to enjoy
PS. Next time I am going to cut back on the cream and throw in some sour cream.
pss. Also, shake a cup of milk up with about 1/2 c flour before adding.
(This was the post from the other day. The internet went down and I forgot about the post! The website apparently did an autosave. :) That was really good soup. I see it didn't save the latest entry with my changes...ps's added)
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Ground Blizzard
The wind woke me up. It is blowing too hard for the animals to go out today! I was trying to decide if I even wanted to get out of bed. Then came a weird sound of something pulling up and getting blown over the roof. Hopefully, it was the blanket of snow and ice up there and not the shingles. The temperatures are in the single digits ABOVE ZERO. Thank God it warmed up. However, these extreme fluctuations always seem to bring extremely high winds, too.
I don't think I will make that planned trip to town. The winds are suppose to increase this afternoon and it will be hard to see where the road is through the blowing snow as it is! The road, the ditches and fields are going to be looking like one big white land. A drift is already forming in the drive, looks like we are going to be drifted in again!!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The time of Wistfulness
Garth Brooks' songs are playing, the sub-zero temps are almost to an end and the promise of a spring coming is right around the corner. What plans does the Lord have for us in the coming year?
The Lord plants His children where He wants them, and guides them in His path that His Will shall be done. Thank the Lord, I don't have to do the planning. His ways are so beyond anything we can imagine and the doors He opens are astonishing and breath taking. What an awesome love He has for all of us! His desire is for all to be saved.
Come to Him our Lord and God, our Heavenly Father and Creator, the great and awesome Jehovah, and His Son, our Lord and Savior, the Lion and the Lamb, the Mighty Redeemer, Lord and King of all, Jesus Christ, and be saved.
The Lord plants His children where He wants them, and guides them in His path that His Will shall be done. Thank the Lord, I don't have to do the planning. His ways are so beyond anything we can imagine and the doors He opens are astonishing and breath taking. What an awesome love He has for all of us! His desire is for all to be saved.
Come to Him our Lord and God, our Heavenly Father and Creator, the great and awesome Jehovah, and His Son, our Lord and Savior, the Lion and the Lamb, the Mighty Redeemer, Lord and King of all, Jesus Christ, and be saved.
TIME TO SEE THE GRANDBABIES AGAIN!!
Is there anything more special than little ones giving you a hug and calling you "Grandma"! Look out babies -- I'm coming to see you for awhile!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
The End of Times and the Lovers of Themselves
Homosexuality is creeping into our lives - through our laws, our schools, our churches, and our workplace. It is insidious in deceiving all those who have compassion on others. In the end of days men who are lovers of themselves will be widespread. Are we not seeing that in the lust of same sex lovers? They are enjoying the sensual pleasures of themselves through their friends.
The following describes the end of times. Following that is a bill before the State Legislature Judiary Committee. Please contact the Judiciary Committee and your representative and senators to vote NO on this bill. The underlined parts are the portions that have been added to our law on discrimination.
THIS IS IN THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE NOW!!
Contact the House Judiciary Committee TO VOTE "NO TO HB 514 TONIGHT!
E-MAIL: http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/62nd/legwebmessage.asp
TELEPHONE: Session Information Desk at 406-444-4800
2011 Montana Legislature
HOUSE BILL NO. 514
INTRODUCED BY E. MCCLAFFERTY
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROTECTING GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION UNDER THE LAWS PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION; DEFINING "GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION" AND "SEXUAL ORIENTATION"; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 49-1-102, 49-2-303, 49-2-304, 49-2-305, 49-2-306, 49-2-307, 49-2-308, 49-2-403, 49-2-602, 49-3-201, 49-3-202, 49-3-203, 49-3-204, 49-3-205, 49-3-206, AND 49-3-207, MCA."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 49-1-102, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-1-102. Freedom from discrimination -- definitions. (1) The right to be free from discrimination because of race, creed, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age, or national origin is recognized as and declared to be a civil right. This right must include but not be limited to:
(a) the right to obtain and hold employment without discrimination; and
(b) the right to the full enjoyment of any of the accommodation facilities or privileges of any place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement.
(2) This section does not prevent the nonarbitrary consideration in adoption proceedings of relevant information concerning the factors listed in subsection (1). Consideration of religious factors by a licensed child-placing agency that is affiliated with a particular religious faith is not arbitrary consideration of religion within the meaning of this section.
(3) For purposes of this title, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Gender identity or expression" means a gender-related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior of an individual, regardless of the individual's sex at birth.
(b) "Sexual orientation" exclusively means actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality."
Section 2. Section 49-2-303, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-2-303. Discrimination in employment. (1) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for:
(a) an employer to refuse employment to a person, to bar a person from employment, or to discriminate against a person in compensation or in a term, condition, or privilege of employment because of race, creed, religion, color, or national origin or because of age, physical or mental disability, marital status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or sex when the reasonable demands of the position do not require an age, physical or mental disability, marital status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or sex distinction;
(b) a labor organization or joint labor management committee controlling apprenticeship to exclude or expel any person from its membership or from an apprenticeship or training program or to discriminate in any way against a member of or an applicant to the labor organization or an employer or employee because of race, creed, religion, color, or national origin or because of age, physical or mental disability, marital status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or sex when the reasonable demands of the program do not require an age, physical or mental disability, marital status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or sex distinction;
(c) an employer or employment agency to print or circulate or cause to be printed or circulated a statement, advertisement, or publication or to use an employment application that expresses, directly or indirectly, a limitation, specification, or discrimination as to sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, race, creed, religion, color, or national origin or an intent to make the limitation, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification;
(d) an employment agency to fail or refuse to refer for employment, to classify, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, race, creed, religion, color, or national origin, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification.
(2) The exceptions permitted in subsection (1) based on bona fide occupational qualifications must be strictly construed.
(3) Compliance with 2-2-302 and 2-2-303, which prohibit nepotism in public agencies, may not be construed as a violation of this section.
(4) The application of a hiring preference, as provided for in 2-18-111 and 18-1-110, may not be construed to be a violation of this section.
(5) It is not a violation of the prohibition against marital status discrimination in this section:
(a) for an employer or labor organization to provide greater or additional contributions to a bona fide group insurance plan for employees with dependents than to those employees without dependents or with fewer dependents; or
(b) for an employer to employ or offer to employ a person who is qualified for the position and to also employ or offer to employ the person's spouse."
Section 3. Section 49-2-304, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-2-304. Discrimination in public accommodations. (1) Except when the distinction is based on reasonable grounds, it is an unlawful discriminatory practice for the owner, lessee, manager, agent, or employee of a public accommodation:
(a) to refuse, withhold from, or deny to a person any of its services, goods, facilities, advantages, or privileges because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, age, physical or mental disability, creed, religion, color, or national origin;
(b) to publish, circulate, issue, display, post, or mail a written or printed communication, notice, or advertisement which that states or implies that any of the services, goods, facilities, advantages, or privileges of the public accommodation will be refused, withheld from, or denied to a person of a certain race, creed, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin.
(2) Except when the distinction is based on reasonable grounds, it is an unlawful discriminatory practice for a licensee under Title 16, chapter 4, to exclude from its membership or from its services, goods, facilities, advantages, privileges, or accommodations any individual on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, or national origin. This subsection does not apply to any lodge of a recognized national fraternal organization.
(3) Nothing in this section prohibits public accommodations from giving or providing special benefits, incentives, discounts, or promotions for the benefit of individuals based on age."
Section 4. Section 49-2-305, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-2-305. Discrimination in housing -- exemptions. (1) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for the owner, lessee, or manager having the right to sell, lease, or rent a housing accommodation or improved or unimproved property or for any other person:
(a) to refuse to sell, lease, or rent the housing accommodation or property to a person because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, color, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, or national origin;
(b) to discriminate against a person because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin in a term, condition, or privilege relating to the use, sale, lease, or rental of the housing accommodation or property;
(c) to make an inquiry of the sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin of a person seeking to buy, lease, or rent a housing accommodation or property for the purpose of discriminating on the basis of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin;
(d) to refuse to negotiate for a sale or to otherwise make unavailable or deny a housing accommodation or property because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin;
(e) to represent to a person that a housing accommodation or property is not available for inspection, sale, or rental because of that person's sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin when the housing accommodation or property is in fact available; or
(f) for profit, to induce or attempt to induce a person to sell or rent a housing accommodation or property by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin.
(2) The rental of sleeping rooms in a private residence designed for single-family occupancy in which the owner also resides is excluded from the provisions of subsection (1), provided that the owner rents no more than three sleeping rooms within the residence.
(3) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice to make, print, or publish or cause to be made, printed, or published any notice, statement, or advertisement that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination that is prohibited by subsection (1) or any intention to make or have a prohibited preference, limitation, or discrimination.
(4) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for a person to discriminate because of a physical or mental disability of a buyer, lessee, or renter; a person residing in or intending to reside in or on the housing accommodation or property after it is sold, leased, rented, or made available; or any person associated with that buyer, lessee, or renter:
(a) in the sale, rental, or availability of the housing accommodation or property;
(b) in the terms, conditions, or privileges of a sale or rental of the housing accommodation or property; or
(c) in the provision of services or facilities in connection with the housing accommodation or property.
(5) For purposes of subsections (1) and (4), discrimination because of physical or mental disability includes:
(a) refusal to permit, at the expense of the person with a disability, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by the person with a disability if the modifications may be necessary to allow the person full enjoyment of the premises, except that in the case of a lease or rental, the landlord may, when it is reasonable to do so, condition permission for a modification on the lessor's or renter's agreement to restore the interior of the premises to the condition that existed before the modification, except for reasonable wear and tear;
(b) refusal to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services when the accommodations may be necessary to allow the person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a housing accommodation or property; or
(c) (i) except as provided in subsection (5)(c)(ii), in connection with the design and construction of a covered multifamily housing accommodation, a failure to design and construct the housing accommodation in a manner that:
(A) provides at least one accessible building entrance on an accessible route;
(B) makes the public use and common use portions of the housing accommodation readily accessible to and usable by a person with a disability;
(C) provides that all doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises within the housing accommodation are sufficiently wide to allow passage by a person with a disability who uses a wheelchair; and
(D) ensures that all premises within the housing accommodation contain the following features of adaptive design:
(I) an accessible route into and through the housing accommodation;
(II) light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls in accessible locations;
(III) reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars; and
(IV) usable kitchens and bathrooms that allow an individual who uses a wheelchair to maneuver about the space;
(ii) a covered multifamily housing accommodation that does not have at least one building entrance on an accessible route because it is impractical to do so due to the terrain or unusual characteristics of the site is not required to comply with the requirements of subsection (5)(c)(i).
(6) For purposes of subsection (5), the term "covered multifamily housing accommodation" means:
(a) a building consisting of four or more dwelling units if the building has one or more elevators; and
(b) ground floor units in a building consisting of four or more dwelling units.
(7) (a) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for any person or other entity whose business includes engaging in residential real estate-related transactions to discriminate because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin against a person in making available a transaction or in the terms or conditions of a transaction.
(b) For purposes of this subsection (7), the term "residential real estate-related transaction" means any of the following:
(i) the making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance:
(A) for purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a housing accommodation or property; or
(B) secured by residential real estate; or
(ii) the selling, brokering, or appraising of residential real property.
(8) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice to deny a person access to or membership or participation in a multiple-listing service; real estate brokers' organization; or other service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling, leasing, or renting housing accommodations or property or to discriminate against the person in the terms or conditions of access, membership, or participation because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin.
(9) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with a person in the exercise or enjoyment of or because of the person having exercised or enjoyed or having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of a right granted or protected by this section.
(10) The prohibitions of this section against discrimination because of age and familial status do not extend to housing for older persons. "Housing for older persons" means housing:
(a) provided under any state or federal program specifically designed and operated to assist elderly persons;
(b) intended for, and solely occupied by, persons 62 years of age or older; or
(c) intended and operated for occupancy by at least one person 55 years of age or older per unit in accordance with the provisions of 42 U.S.C. 3607(b)(2)(C) and (b)(3) through (b)(5), as those provisions read on March 31, 1996.
(11) The prohibitions of subsection (1) against discrimination because of age and familial status do not extend to rooms or units in dwellings containing living quarters occupied or intended to be occupied by no more than two families living independently of each other, if the owner actually maintains and occupies one of the living quarters as the owner's residence.
(12) For purposes of this section, "familial status" means having a child or children who live or will live with a person. A distinction based on familial status includes one that is based on the age of a child or children who live or will live with a person."
Section 5. Section 49-2-306, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-2-306. Discrimination in financing and credit transactions. (1) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for a financial institution, upon receiving an application for financial assistance, to permit an official or employee, during the execution of that person's duties, to discriminate against the applicant because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin in a term, condition, or privilege relating to the obtainment or use of the institution's financial assistance, unless based on reasonable grounds.
(2) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for a creditor to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or marital status against any person in any credit transaction that is subject to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court of record."
Section 6. Section 49-2-307, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-2-307. Discrimination in education. It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for an educational institution:
(1) to exclude, expel, limit, or otherwise discriminate against an individual seeking admission as a student or an individual enrolled as a student in the terms, conditions, or privileges of the institution because of race, creed, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, color, age, physical disability, or national origin or because of mental disability, unless based on reasonable grounds;
(2) to make or use a written or oral inquiry or form of application for admission that elicits or attempts to elicit information or to make or keep a record concerning the race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, creed, religion, physical or mental disability, or national origin of an applicant for admission, except as permitted by regulations of the commission;
(3) to print, publish, or cause to be printed or published a catalog or other notice or advertisement indicating a limitation, specification, or discrimination based on the race, color, creed, religion, age, physical or mental disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, or national origin of an applicant for admission; or
(4) to announce or follow a policy of denial or limitation of educational opportunities of a group or its members, through a quota or otherwise, because of race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, creed, religion, physical or mental disability, or national origin."
Section 7. Section 49-2-308, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-2-308. Discrimination by the state. (1) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for the state or any of its political subdivisions:
(a) to refuse, withhold from, or deny to a person any local, state, or federal funds, services, goods, facilities, advantages, or privileges because of race, creed, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, color, age, physical or mental disability, or national origin, unless based on reasonable grounds;
(b) to publish, circulate, issue, display, post, or mail a written or printed communication, notice, or advertisementwhich that states or implies that any local, state, or federal funds, services, goods, facilities, advantages, or privileges of the office or agency will be refused, withheld from, or denied to a person of a certain race, creed, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, color, age, physical or mental disability, or national origin or that the patronage of a person of a particular race, creed, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, color, age, or national origin or possessing a physical or mental disability is unwelcome or not desired or solicited, unless based on reasonable grounds;
(c) to refuse employment to a person, to bar a person from employment, or to discriminate against a person in compensation or in a term, condition, or privilege of employment because of that person's political beliefs. However, this prohibition does not apply to policymaking positions on the immediate staff of an elected officer of the executive branch provided for in Article VI, section 1, of the Montana constitution, to the appointment by the governor of a director of a principal department provided for in Article VI, section 7, of the Montana constitution, or to the immediate staff of the majority and minority leadership of the Montana legislature.
(2) This section does not prevent the nonarbitrary consideration in adoption proceedings of relevant information concerning the factors listed in subsection (1)."
Section 8. Section 49-2-403, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-2-403. Specific limits on justification. (1) Except as permitted in 49-2-303(3) through (5) and 49-3-201(5), sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, race, creed, religion, color, or national origin may not comprise justification for discrimination except for the legally demonstrable purpose of correcting a previous discriminatory practice.
(2) Age or mental disability may represent a legitimate discriminatory criterion in credit transactions only as it relates to a person's capacity to make or be bound by contracts or other obligations."
Section 9. Section 49-2-602, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-2-602. Intimidation or interference in right to be free from housing discrimination -- penalties. (1) It is unlawful for a person, whether or not acting under color of law, by force or threat of force to purposefully or knowingly injure, intimidate, or interfere with or attempt to injure, intimidate, or interfere with:
(a) a person because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin and because the person is or has been:
(i) selling, purchasing, renting, leasing, financing, or occupying or contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase, lease, rental, financing, or occupation of any housing accommodation or property; or
(ii) applying for or participating in any service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling, leasing, or renting housing accommodations or property;
(b) a person because that person is or has been:
(i) participating, without discrimination because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in this subsection (1); or
(ii) affording another person or class of persons opportunity or protection to participate in those activities, services, organizations, or facilities; or
(c) a citizen because the citizen is or has been, or in order to discourage that citizen or any other citizen from, lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in this subsection (1) or because the citizen is or has been lawfully participating in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to participate.
(2) A person who violates a provision of subsection (1):
(a) shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both;
(b) if bodily injury results, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both; or
(c) if death results, shall be subject to imprisonment for any term of years or for life."
Section 10. Section 49-3-201, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-3-201. Employment of state and local government personnel. (1) State and local government officials and supervisory personnel shall recruit, appoint, assign, train, evaluate, and promote personnel on the basis of merit and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin.
(2) All state and local governmental agencies shall:
(a) promulgate written directives to carry out this policy and to guarantee equal employment opportunities at all levels of state and local government;
(b) regularly review their personnel practices toassure ensure compliance; and
(c) conduct continuing orientation and training programs with emphasis on human relations and fair employment practices.
(3) The department of administration shall ensure that the entire examination process, including appraisal of qualifications, is free from bias.
(4) Appointing authorities shall exercise care to ensure utilization of minority group persons.
(5) Compliance with 2-2-302 and 2-2-303, which prohibit nepotism in public agencies, may not be construed as a violation of this section."
Section 11. Section 49-3-202, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-3-202. Employment referrals and placement services. (1) All state and local governmental agencies, including educational institutions, that provide employment referrals or placement services to public or private employers shall accept job orders on a fair practice basis. A job request indicating an intention to exclude a person because of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin must be rejected.
(2) All state and local governmental agencies shall cooperate in programs developed by the commission for human rights for the purpose of broadening the base of job recruitment and shall further cooperate with employers and unions providing the programs.
(3) The department of labor and industry shall cooperate with the commission for human rights in encouraging and enforcing compliance by employers and labor unions with the policy of this chapter and promotion of equal employment opportunities."
Section 12. Section 49-3-203, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-3-203. Educational, counseling, and training programs. All educational, counseling, and vocational guidance programs and all apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs of state and local governmental agencies or in which state and local governmental agencies participate must be open to all persons, who must be accepted on the basis of merit and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin. The programs must be conducted to encourage the full development of the interests, aptitudes, skills, and capacities of all students and trainees, with special attention to the problems of persons who are culturally deprived or who are educationally or economically disadvantaged. Expansion of training opportunities under these programs must be encouraged to involve larger numbers of participants from those segments of the labor force in which the need for upgrading levels of skill is greatest."
Section 13. Section 49-3-204, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-3-204. Licensing. (1) A state or local governmental agency may not grant, deny, or revoke the license or charter of a person on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin. Each state or local governmental agency shall take appropriate action in the exercise of its licensing or regulatory power as willassure to ensure equal treatment of all persons, eliminate discrimination, and enforce compliance with the policy of this chapter. This subsection does not prevent the department of public health and human services from licensing a child-placing agency that gives nonarbitrary consideration in adoption proceedings to relevant information concerning the factors listed in this subsection. Consideration of religious factors by a licensed child-placing agency that is affiliated with a particular religious faith is not arbitrary consideration of religion within the meaning of this section.
(2) The state may not issue or renew a license under Title 16, chapter 4, to an applicant or licensee that excludes from its membership or from its goods, services, facilities, privileges, or advantages any individual on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin. This subsection does not apply to any lodge of a recognized national fraternal organization."
Section 14. Section 49-3-205, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-3-205. Governmental services. (1) All services of every state or local governmental agency must be performed without discrimination based upon race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin.
(2) A state or local facility may not be used in the furtherance of any discriminatory practice,.nor may a A state or local governmental agency may not become a party to an agreement, arrangement, or plan that has the effect of sanctioning discriminatory practices.
(3) Each state or local governmental agency shall analyze all of its operations to ascertain possible instances of noncompliance with the policy of this chapter and shall initiate comprehensive programs to remedy any defect found to exist.
(4) This section does not prevent the nonarbitrary consideration in adoption proceedings of relevant information concerning the factors listed in this section."
Section 15. Section 49-3-206, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-3-206. Distribution of governmental funds. Race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin may not be considered as limiting factors with regard to applicants' qualifications for benefits authorized by law in state or locally administered programs involving the distribution of funds;.nor may state State agencies may not provide grants, loans, or other financial assistance to public agencies, private institutions, or organizations which that engage in discriminatory practices."
Section 16. Section 49-3-207, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-3-207. Nondiscrimination provision in all public contracts. Every state or local contract or subcontract for construction of public buildings or for other public work or for goods or services must contain a provision that all hiring must be on the basis of merit and qualifications and a provision that there may not be discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin by the persons performing the contract."
- END -
The following describes the end of times. Following that is a bill before the State Legislature Judiary Committee. Please contact the Judiciary Committee and your representative and senators to vote NO on this bill. The underlined parts are the portions that have been added to our law on discrimination.
2 Timothy 3
(Perilous Times and Perilous Men) 1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.(NOTE ADDED: This bill died in Standing Committee)
(The Man of God and the Word of God) 10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
THIS IS IN THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE NOW!!
Contact the House Judiciary Committee TO VOTE "NO TO HB 514 TONIGHT!
E-MAIL: http://leg.mt.gov/css/sessions/62nd/legwebmessage.asp
TELEPHONE: Session Information Desk at 406-444-4800
2011 Montana Legislature
HOUSE BILL NO. 514
INTRODUCED BY E. MCCLAFFERTY
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROTECTING GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION UNDER THE LAWS PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION; DEFINING "GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION" AND "SEXUAL ORIENTATION"; AND AMENDING SECTIONS 49-1-102, 49-2-303, 49-2-304, 49-2-305, 49-2-306, 49-2-307, 49-2-308, 49-2-403, 49-2-602, 49-3-201, 49-3-202, 49-3-203, 49-3-204, 49-3-205, 49-3-206, AND 49-3-207, MCA."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Section 49-1-102, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-1-102. Freedom from discrimination -- definitions. (1) The right to be free from discrimination because of race, creed, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age, or national origin is recognized as and declared to be a civil right. This right must include but not be limited to:
(a) the right to obtain and hold employment without discrimination; and
(b) the right to the full enjoyment of any of the accommodation facilities or privileges of any place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement.
(2) This section does not prevent the nonarbitrary consideration in adoption proceedings of relevant information concerning the factors listed in subsection (1). Consideration of religious factors by a licensed child-placing agency that is affiliated with a particular religious faith is not arbitrary consideration of religion within the meaning of this section.
(3) For purposes of this title, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Gender identity or expression" means a gender-related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior of an individual, regardless of the individual's sex at birth.
(b) "Sexual orientation" exclusively means actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality."
Section 2. Section 49-2-303, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-2-303. Discrimination in employment. (1) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for:
(a) an employer to refuse employment to a person, to bar a person from employment, or to discriminate against a person in compensation or in a term, condition, or privilege of employment because of race, creed, religion, color, or national origin or because of age, physical or mental disability, marital status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or sex when the reasonable demands of the position do not require an age, physical or mental disability, marital status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or sex distinction;
(b) a labor organization or joint labor management committee controlling apprenticeship to exclude or expel any person from its membership or from an apprenticeship or training program or to discriminate in any way against a member of or an applicant to the labor organization or an employer or employee because of race, creed, religion, color, or national origin or because of age, physical or mental disability, marital status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or sex when the reasonable demands of the program do not require an age, physical or mental disability, marital status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or sex distinction;
(c) an employer or employment agency to print or circulate or cause to be printed or circulated a statement, advertisement, or publication or to use an employment application that expresses, directly or indirectly, a limitation, specification, or discrimination as to sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, race, creed, religion, color, or national origin or an intent to make the limitation, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification;
(d) an employment agency to fail or refuse to refer for employment, to classify, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, race, creed, religion, color, or national origin, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification.
(2) The exceptions permitted in subsection (1) based on bona fide occupational qualifications must be strictly construed.
(3) Compliance with 2-2-302 and 2-2-303, which prohibit nepotism in public agencies, may not be construed as a violation of this section.
(4) The application of a hiring preference, as provided for in 2-18-111 and 18-1-110, may not be construed to be a violation of this section.
(5) It is not a violation of the prohibition against marital status discrimination in this section:
(a) for an employer or labor organization to provide greater or additional contributions to a bona fide group insurance plan for employees with dependents than to those employees without dependents or with fewer dependents; or
(b) for an employer to employ or offer to employ a person who is qualified for the position and to also employ or offer to employ the person's spouse."
Section 3. Section 49-2-304, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-2-304. Discrimination in public accommodations. (1) Except when the distinction is based on reasonable grounds, it is an unlawful discriminatory practice for the owner, lessee, manager, agent, or employee of a public accommodation:
(a) to refuse, withhold from, or deny to a person any of its services, goods, facilities, advantages, or privileges because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, age, physical or mental disability, creed, religion, color, or national origin;
(b) to publish, circulate, issue, display, post, or mail a written or printed communication, notice, or advertisement which that states or implies that any of the services, goods, facilities, advantages, or privileges of the public accommodation will be refused, withheld from, or denied to a person of a certain race, creed, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin.
(2) Except when the distinction is based on reasonable grounds, it is an unlawful discriminatory practice for a licensee under Title 16, chapter 4, to exclude from its membership or from its services, goods, facilities, advantages, privileges, or accommodations any individual on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, or national origin. This subsection does not apply to any lodge of a recognized national fraternal organization.
(3) Nothing in this section prohibits public accommodations from giving or providing special benefits, incentives, discounts, or promotions for the benefit of individuals based on age."
Section 4. Section 49-2-305, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-2-305. Discrimination in housing -- exemptions. (1) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for the owner, lessee, or manager having the right to sell, lease, or rent a housing accommodation or improved or unimproved property or for any other person:
(a) to refuse to sell, lease, or rent the housing accommodation or property to a person because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, color, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, or national origin;
(b) to discriminate against a person because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin in a term, condition, or privilege relating to the use, sale, lease, or rental of the housing accommodation or property;
(c) to make an inquiry of the sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin of a person seeking to buy, lease, or rent a housing accommodation or property for the purpose of discriminating on the basis of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin;
(d) to refuse to negotiate for a sale or to otherwise make unavailable or deny a housing accommodation or property because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin;
(e) to represent to a person that a housing accommodation or property is not available for inspection, sale, or rental because of that person's sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin when the housing accommodation or property is in fact available; or
(f) for profit, to induce or attempt to induce a person to sell or rent a housing accommodation or property by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin.
(2) The rental of sleeping rooms in a private residence designed for single-family occupancy in which the owner also resides is excluded from the provisions of subsection (1), provided that the owner rents no more than three sleeping rooms within the residence.
(3) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice to make, print, or publish or cause to be made, printed, or published any notice, statement, or advertisement that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination that is prohibited by subsection (1) or any intention to make or have a prohibited preference, limitation, or discrimination.
(4) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for a person to discriminate because of a physical or mental disability of a buyer, lessee, or renter; a person residing in or intending to reside in or on the housing accommodation or property after it is sold, leased, rented, or made available; or any person associated with that buyer, lessee, or renter:
(a) in the sale, rental, or availability of the housing accommodation or property;
(b) in the terms, conditions, or privileges of a sale or rental of the housing accommodation or property; or
(c) in the provision of services or facilities in connection with the housing accommodation or property.
(5) For purposes of subsections (1) and (4), discrimination because of physical or mental disability includes:
(a) refusal to permit, at the expense of the person with a disability, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by the person with a disability if the modifications may be necessary to allow the person full enjoyment of the premises, except that in the case of a lease or rental, the landlord may, when it is reasonable to do so, condition permission for a modification on the lessor's or renter's agreement to restore the interior of the premises to the condition that existed before the modification, except for reasonable wear and tear;
(b) refusal to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services when the accommodations may be necessary to allow the person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a housing accommodation or property; or
(c) (i) except as provided in subsection (5)(c)(ii), in connection with the design and construction of a covered multifamily housing accommodation, a failure to design and construct the housing accommodation in a manner that:
(A) provides at least one accessible building entrance on an accessible route;
(B) makes the public use and common use portions of the housing accommodation readily accessible to and usable by a person with a disability;
(C) provides that all doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises within the housing accommodation are sufficiently wide to allow passage by a person with a disability who uses a wheelchair; and
(D) ensures that all premises within the housing accommodation contain the following features of adaptive design:
(I) an accessible route into and through the housing accommodation;
(II) light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls in accessible locations;
(III) reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars; and
(IV) usable kitchens and bathrooms that allow an individual who uses a wheelchair to maneuver about the space;
(ii) a covered multifamily housing accommodation that does not have at least one building entrance on an accessible route because it is impractical to do so due to the terrain or unusual characteristics of the site is not required to comply with the requirements of subsection (5)(c)(i).
(6) For purposes of subsection (5), the term "covered multifamily housing accommodation" means:
(a) a building consisting of four or more dwelling units if the building has one or more elevators; and
(b) ground floor units in a building consisting of four or more dwelling units.
(7) (a) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for any person or other entity whose business includes engaging in residential real estate-related transactions to discriminate because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin against a person in making available a transaction or in the terms or conditions of a transaction.
(b) For purposes of this subsection (7), the term "residential real estate-related transaction" means any of the following:
(i) the making or purchasing of loans or providing other financial assistance:
(A) for purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or maintaining a housing accommodation or property; or
(B) secured by residential real estate; or
(ii) the selling, brokering, or appraising of residential real property.
(8) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice to deny a person access to or membership or participation in a multiple-listing service; real estate brokers' organization; or other service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling, leasing, or renting housing accommodations or property or to discriminate against the person in the terms or conditions of access, membership, or participation because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin.
(9) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with a person in the exercise or enjoyment of or because of the person having exercised or enjoyed or having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of a right granted or protected by this section.
(10) The prohibitions of this section against discrimination because of age and familial status do not extend to housing for older persons. "Housing for older persons" means housing:
(a) provided under any state or federal program specifically designed and operated to assist elderly persons;
(b) intended for, and solely occupied by, persons 62 years of age or older; or
(c) intended and operated for occupancy by at least one person 55 years of age or older per unit in accordance with the provisions of 42 U.S.C. 3607(b)(2)(C) and (b)(3) through (b)(5), as those provisions read on March 31, 1996.
(11) The prohibitions of subsection (1) against discrimination because of age and familial status do not extend to rooms or units in dwellings containing living quarters occupied or intended to be occupied by no more than two families living independently of each other, if the owner actually maintains and occupies one of the living quarters as the owner's residence.
(12) For purposes of this section, "familial status" means having a child or children who live or will live with a person. A distinction based on familial status includes one that is based on the age of a child or children who live or will live with a person."
Section 5. Section 49-2-306, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-2-306. Discrimination in financing and credit transactions. (1) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for a financial institution, upon receiving an application for financial assistance, to permit an official or employee, during the execution of that person's duties, to discriminate against the applicant because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin in a term, condition, or privilege relating to the obtainment or use of the institution's financial assistance, unless based on reasonable grounds.
(2) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for a creditor to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or marital status against any person in any credit transaction that is subject to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court of record."
Section 6. Section 49-2-307, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-2-307. Discrimination in education. It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for an educational institution:
(1) to exclude, expel, limit, or otherwise discriminate against an individual seeking admission as a student or an individual enrolled as a student in the terms, conditions, or privileges of the institution because of race, creed, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, color, age, physical disability, or national origin or because of mental disability, unless based on reasonable grounds;
(2) to make or use a written or oral inquiry or form of application for admission that elicits or attempts to elicit information or to make or keep a record concerning the race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, creed, religion, physical or mental disability, or national origin of an applicant for admission, except as permitted by regulations of the commission;
(3) to print, publish, or cause to be printed or published a catalog or other notice or advertisement indicating a limitation, specification, or discrimination based on the race, color, creed, religion, age, physical or mental disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, or national origin of an applicant for admission; or
(4) to announce or follow a policy of denial or limitation of educational opportunities of a group or its members, through a quota or otherwise, because of race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, creed, religion, physical or mental disability, or national origin."
Section 7. Section 49-2-308, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-2-308. Discrimination by the state. (1) It is an unlawful discriminatory practice for the state or any of its political subdivisions:
(a) to refuse, withhold from, or deny to a person any local, state, or federal funds, services, goods, facilities, advantages, or privileges because of race, creed, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, color, age, physical or mental disability, or national origin, unless based on reasonable grounds;
(b) to publish, circulate, issue, display, post, or mail a written or printed communication, notice, or advertisement
(c) to refuse employment to a person, to bar a person from employment, or to discriminate against a person in compensation or in a term, condition, or privilege of employment because of that person's political beliefs. However, this prohibition does not apply to policymaking positions on the immediate staff of an elected officer of the executive branch provided for in Article VI, section 1, of the Montana constitution, to the appointment by the governor of a director of a principal department provided for in Article VI, section 7, of the Montana constitution, or to the immediate staff of the majority and minority leadership of the Montana legislature.
(2) This section does not prevent the nonarbitrary consideration in adoption proceedings of relevant information concerning the factors listed in subsection (1)."
Section 8. Section 49-2-403, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-2-403. Specific limits on justification. (1) Except as permitted in 49-2-303(3) through (5) and 49-3-201(5), sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, race, creed, religion, color, or national origin may not comprise justification for discrimination except for the legally demonstrable purpose of correcting a previous discriminatory practice.
(2) Age or mental disability may represent a legitimate discriminatory criterion in credit transactions only as it relates to a person's capacity to make or be bound by contracts or other obligations."
Section 9. Section 49-2-602, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-2-602. Intimidation or interference in right to be free from housing discrimination -- penalties. (1) It is unlawful for a person, whether or not acting under color of law, by force or threat of force to purposefully or knowingly injure, intimidate, or interfere with or attempt to injure, intimidate, or interfere with:
(a) a person because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin and because the person is or has been:
(i) selling, purchasing, renting, leasing, financing, or occupying or contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase, lease, rental, financing, or occupation of any housing accommodation or property; or
(ii) applying for or participating in any service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling, leasing, or renting housing accommodations or property;
(b) a person because that person is or has been:
(i) participating, without discrimination because of sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, physical or mental disability, color, or national origin in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in this subsection (1); or
(ii) affording another person or class of persons opportunity or protection to participate in those activities, services, organizations, or facilities; or
(c) a citizen because the citizen is or has been, or in order to discourage that citizen or any other citizen from, lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in this subsection (1) or because the citizen is or has been lawfully participating in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to participate.
(2) A person who violates a provision of subsection (1):
(a) shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both;
(b) if bodily injury results, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both; or
(c) if death results, shall be subject to imprisonment for any term of years or for life."
Section 10. Section 49-3-201, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-3-201. Employment of state and local government personnel. (1) State and local government officials and supervisory personnel shall recruit, appoint, assign, train, evaluate, and promote personnel on the basis of merit and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin.
(2) All state and local governmental agencies shall:
(a) promulgate written directives to carry out this policy and to guarantee equal employment opportunities at all levels of state and local government;
(b) regularly review their personnel practices to
(c) conduct continuing orientation and training programs with emphasis on human relations and fair employment practices.
(3) The department of administration shall ensure that the entire examination process, including appraisal of qualifications, is free from bias.
(4) Appointing authorities shall exercise care to ensure utilization of minority group persons.
(5) Compliance with 2-2-302 and 2-2-303, which prohibit nepotism in public agencies, may not be construed as a violation of this section."
Section 11. Section 49-3-202, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-3-202. Employment referrals and placement services. (1) All state and local governmental agencies, including educational institutions, that provide employment referrals or placement services to public or private employers shall accept job orders on a fair practice basis. A job request indicating an intention to exclude a person because of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin must be rejected.
(2) All state and local governmental agencies shall cooperate in programs developed by the commission for human rights for the purpose of broadening the base of job recruitment and shall further cooperate with employers and unions providing the programs.
(3) The department of labor and industry shall cooperate with the commission for human rights in encouraging and enforcing compliance by employers and labor unions with the policy of this chapter and promotion of equal employment opportunities."
Section 12. Section 49-3-203, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-3-203. Educational, counseling, and training programs. All educational, counseling, and vocational guidance programs and all apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs of state and local governmental agencies or in which state and local governmental agencies participate must be open to all persons, who must be accepted on the basis of merit and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin. The programs must be conducted to encourage the full development of the interests, aptitudes, skills, and capacities of all students and trainees, with special attention to the problems of persons who are culturally deprived or who are educationally or economically disadvantaged. Expansion of training opportunities under these programs must be encouraged to involve larger numbers of participants from those segments of the labor force in which the need for upgrading levels of skill is greatest."
Section 13. Section 49-3-204, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-3-204. Licensing. (1) A state or local governmental agency may not grant, deny, or revoke the license or charter of a person on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin. Each state or local governmental agency shall take appropriate action in the exercise of its licensing or regulatory power as will
(2) The state may not issue or renew a license under Title 16, chapter 4, to an applicant or licensee that excludes from its membership or from its goods, services, facilities, privileges, or advantages any individual on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin. This subsection does not apply to any lodge of a recognized national fraternal organization."
Section 14. Section 49-3-205, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-3-205. Governmental services. (1) All services of every state or local governmental agency must be performed without discrimination based upon race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin.
(2) A state or local facility may not be used in the furtherance of any discriminatory practice,.
(3) Each state or local governmental agency shall analyze all of its operations to ascertain possible instances of noncompliance with the policy of this chapter and shall initiate comprehensive programs to remedy any defect found to exist.
(4) This section does not prevent the nonarbitrary consideration in adoption proceedings of relevant information concerning the factors listed in this section."
Section 15. Section 49-3-206, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-3-206. Distribution of governmental funds. Race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin may not be considered as limiting factors with regard to applicants' qualifications for benefits authorized by law in state or locally administered programs involving the distribution of funds;.
Section 16. Section 49-3-207, MCA, is amended to read:
"49-3-207. Nondiscrimination provision in all public contracts. Every state or local contract or subcontract for construction of public buildings or for other public work or for goods or services must contain a provision that all hiring must be on the basis of merit and qualifications and a provision that there may not be discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or national origin by the persons performing the contract."
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Sunday, February 13, 2011
Constitutional Amendment to Define Person
The following is the bill to be introduced to the Judiciary Committee on February 14, 2011, Room 137, at the Helena State Capitol. It can be found at: http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2011/billhtml/HB0490.htm
2011 Montana Legislature
HOUSE BILL NO. 490
INTRODUCED BY W. WARBURTON
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF MONTANA AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE II, SECTION 17, OF THE MONTANA CONSTITUTION DEFINING "PERSON" TO INCLUDE ALL MEMBERS OF THE SPECIES HOMO SAPIENS AT ANY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE."
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Article II, section 17, of The Constitution of the State of Montana is amended to read:
"Section 17. Due process of law. (1) No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
(2) As used in this section, the word "person" applies to all members of the species Homo sapiens at any stage of development, including the stage of fertilization or conception, regardless of age, health, level of functioning, or condition of dependency.
(3) The legislature shall implement this section by appropriate legislation."
NEW SECTION. Section 2. Saving clause. [This act] does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, or proceedings that were begun before [the effective date of this act].
NEW SECTION. Section 3. Severability. If a part of [this act] is invalid, all valid parts that are severable from the invalid part remain in effect. If a part of [this act] is invalid in one or more of its applications, the part remains in effect in all valid applications that are severable from the invalid applications.
NEW SECTION. Section 4. Two-thirds vote required. Because [section 1] is a legislative proposal to amend the constitution, Article XIV, section 8, of the Montana constitution requires an affirmative roll call vote of two-thirds of all the members of the legislature, whether one or more bodies, for passage.
NEW SECTION. Section 5. Effective date. [This act] is effective upon approval by the electorate.
NEW SECTION. Section 6. Submission to electorate. [This act] shall be submitted to the qualified electors of Montana at the general election to be held in November 2012 by printing on the ballot the full title of [this act] and the following:
[] FOR amending the Montana constitution's due process section to define "person" to include all members of the species Homo sapiens at any stage of development.
[] AGAINST amending the Montana constitution's due process section to define "person" to include all members of the species Homo sapiens at any stage of development.
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Friday, February 11, 2011
Support the Personhood Amendment
Come to the Helena Capital Building February 14th at 9 am. (Time may be after 9.) House Representative Wendy Warburton will be presenting the Personhood Amendment, HB 490, to the House Judiciary Committee.
Testimonies will include personal testimonies for personhood and representatives from the American Life League, Physicians for Life, Eagle Forum and Montana Citizens for Decency Through Law. Also testifying will be Sen. Dan McGee, whose personhood bill was first in US to win a simple majority in both houses, and Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood director who is now a pro-life advocate.
Commemorative buttons will be available for you. Bring as many friends as possible.
TELEPHONE: Call 406-444-4800 and leave a message. Tell the operator you would like your representative or senator to vote FOR Wendy Warburton’s personhood bill. Or, you may leave the message for the Judiciary Committee.
E-MAIL: Contact your representatives and senators and ask for their support of the bill.
E-MAIL MESSAGE FORM: at: http://leg.mt.gov/css/Sessions/62nd/legwebmessage.asp
Select a legislator or a committee to send your message to. The bill number is HB 490.
Find your district: https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo/
Find your representative and senator: http://www.votesmart.org/index.htm Type in your zip code, plus 4 in the FIND YOUR CANDIDATES box, then select OFFICIALS.
Representatives in our area are as follows:
Anders Blewett (D, SD 11, Greatfalls)
Ed Buttrey (R, SD 13, Greatfalls)
Brad Hamlett (D, SD 10, Cascade)
Llew Jones (R, SD 14, Conrad)
Mitch Tropila (D, SD 12)
Duane Ankney (R, HD 43, Colstrip)
Cydnie (Carlie) Boland (D, HD 23, Great Falls)
Christy Clark (R, HD 17, Choteau)
Rob Cook (R, HD 27, Conrad)
Steve Fitzpatrick (R, HD 20, Great Falls)
Bill Harris (R, HD 30, Mosby)
Roy Hollandsworth (R, HD 28, Brady)
Brian Hoven (R, HD 24, Great Falls)
Austin Knudsen (R, HD 36, Culbertson)
Cleve Loney (R, HD 25, Great Falls)
Robert Mehlhoff (D, HD 26, Great Falls)
Mike Milburn (R, HD 19)
Jesse O’Hara (R, HD 18, Great Falls)
Jean Price (D, HD 21)
Trudi Schmidt (D, HD 22, Great Falls),
(Information from the Montana Prolife Coalition. See: http://montanaprolifecoalition.com/ )
BABY:
FIRST MONTH: From the moment of conception, baby has the complete genome of unique DNA. Gender, hair, eye color and other inherited characteristics are determined at this time. The heart and circulatory system is developing and at day 18 the heart beats and pumps blood by day 21.
SECOND MONTH: Baby receives oxygen and nutrients from the umbilical cord. It also removes waste. Lungs and brain begin to develop. Brain waves recorded as early as 40 days after conception on EEG. Development during this month includes arm, legs, elbows, fingers, toes, eyes, pancreas, teeth, tongue, cartilage, and bones. Intestines are now into the abdomen. The muscles are developed enough that embryo swims gracefully. By eight weeks all body systems are present.
THIRD MONTH: By 11 weeks all body systems function.
FOURTH MONTH: Baby inhales and exhales. The liver begins secreting bile. By week 14 baby is probably sucking his thumb regularly. Thumb sucking is seen as early as 7 weeks. Fine hair covers the body to protect the skin from the water. Eyebrows and scalp hair are beginning to grow. Hearing is present as early as 14 weeks. Genitals may be well enough developed to determine gender.
FIFTH MONTH: Fat begins to form beneath the skin. You can see the baby’s breathing from the regular movements of the chest. Pads are forming on the fingers and toes. The skeleton is transforming from cartilage to bone. Vermix (cheese-like material) forms on the skin for additional protection toward the end of this month. Tiny air sacs called alveoli begin to form in lungs. Vocal chords form. Baby is swallowing amniotic fluid and the kidneys are making urine. Inside the intestines, the first stool, called meconium, is forming. Rapid eye movements (REM) characteristic of dream states have been demonstrated at 17 weeks. The number of nerve cells increases rapidly this month. By week 20, the nerve cells for taste, smell, hearing, seeing, and touch are now developing in specialized areas of the brain. The baby can be startled or calmed, depending on the sounds heard from outside the womb.
SIXTH MONTH: White blood cells are under production. Skin has changed from transparent to more opaque. The tongue, eyelid and eyebrows is fully formed. At the start of this month, the eyelids slowly open. Fingernails have grown to the end of the fingers. Taste buds begin to be formed. The bones are getting harder. If born at 23 weeks, your baby has a 15% chance of survival, with odds improving with each passing day.
SEVENTH MONTH: The structures of the spine begin to form, and dexterity is increasing. Nostrils begin to form. Response to sound and light is more consistent. Taste buds are well-developed and baby changes expression on his face depending on if he tastes something sweet or sour. Baby’s scalp hair is growing longer. Baby is getting more rounded, plump, and muscle tone is improving. By week 28, lungs are capable of breathing. Though they don’t actually breathe until birth, they make breathing movements.
EIGHTH MONTH: Baby’s eyes can move in their sockets. Tears can form and more time is spent opening and closing eyelids. Bone marrow is now in charge of red blood cell production. The brain enters another period of rapid growth. All five senses are functioning.
(Baby description, in some places condensed and in part, taken from the MontanaProLifeCoalition.com website.)
The Life Issues Institute's web site has now added 3-D ultrasound pictures. They are beautiful! For those who would like to view a 3-D picture of baby at the preborn age of 11 weeks, 25 weeks, 27 weeks and 33 weeks, go to:
http://www.lifeissues.org/ultrasound/4Dindex.htm
Testimonies will include personal testimonies for personhood and representatives from the American Life League, Physicians for Life, Eagle Forum and Montana Citizens for Decency Through Law. Also testifying will be Sen. Dan McGee, whose personhood bill was first in US to win a simple majority in both houses, and Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood director who is now a pro-life advocate.
Commemorative buttons will be available for you. Bring as many friends as possible.
TELEPHONE: Call 406-444-4800 and leave a message. Tell the operator you would like your representative or senator to vote FOR Wendy Warburton’s personhood bill. Or, you may leave the message for the Judiciary Committee.
E-MAIL: Contact your representatives and senators and ask for their support of the bill.
E-MAIL MESSAGE FORM: at: http://leg.mt.gov/css/Sessions/62nd/legwebmessage.asp
Select a legislator or a committee to send your message to. The bill number is HB 490.
Find your district: https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo/
Find your representative and senator: http://www.votesmart.org/index.htm Type in your zip code, plus 4 in the FIND YOUR CANDIDATES box, then select OFFICIALS.
Representatives in our area are as follows:
Anders Blewett (D, SD 11, Greatfalls)
Ed Buttrey (R, SD 13, Greatfalls)
Brad Hamlett (D, SD 10, Cascade)
Llew Jones (R, SD 14, Conrad)
Mitch Tropila (D, SD 12)
Duane Ankney (R, HD 43, Colstrip)
Cydnie (Carlie) Boland (D, HD 23, Great Falls)
Christy Clark (R, HD 17, Choteau)
Rob Cook (R, HD 27, Conrad)
Steve Fitzpatrick (R, HD 20, Great Falls)
Bill Harris (R, HD 30, Mosby)
Roy Hollandsworth (R, HD 28, Brady)
Brian Hoven (R, HD 24, Great Falls)
Austin Knudsen (R, HD 36, Culbertson)
Cleve Loney (R, HD 25, Great Falls)
Robert Mehlhoff (D, HD 26, Great Falls)
Mike Milburn (R, HD 19)
Jesse O’Hara (R, HD 18, Great Falls)
Jean Price (D, HD 21)
Trudi Schmidt (D, HD 22, Great Falls),
(Information from the Montana Prolife Coalition. See: http://montanaprolifecoalition.com/ )
BABY:
FIRST MONTH: From the moment of conception, baby has the complete genome of unique DNA. Gender, hair, eye color and other inherited characteristics are determined at this time. The heart and circulatory system is developing and at day 18 the heart beats and pumps blood by day 21.
 |
| 8 weeks |
THIRD MONTH: By 11 weeks all body systems function.
 |
| 14 weeks |
 |
| 16 weeks |
FIFTH MONTH: Fat begins to form beneath the skin. You can see the baby’s breathing from the regular movements of the chest. Pads are forming on the fingers and toes. The skeleton is transforming from cartilage to bone. Vermix (cheese-like material) forms on the skin for additional protection toward the end of this month. Tiny air sacs called alveoli begin to form in lungs. Vocal chords form. Baby is swallowing amniotic fluid and the kidneys are making urine. Inside the intestines, the first stool, called meconium, is forming. Rapid eye movements (REM) characteristic of dream states have been demonstrated at 17 weeks. The number of nerve cells increases rapidly this month. By week 20, the nerve cells for taste, smell, hearing, seeing, and touch are now developing in specialized areas of the brain. The baby can be startled or calmed, depending on the sounds heard from outside the womb.
 |
| 20 weeks |
SIXTH MONTH: White blood cells are under production. Skin has changed from transparent to more opaque. The tongue, eyelid and eyebrows is fully formed. At the start of this month, the eyelids slowly open. Fingernails have grown to the end of the fingers. Taste buds begin to be formed. The bones are getting harder. If born at 23 weeks, your baby has a 15% chance of survival, with odds improving with each passing day.
SEVENTH MONTH: The structures of the spine begin to form, and dexterity is increasing. Nostrils begin to form. Response to sound and light is more consistent. Taste buds are well-developed and baby changes expression on his face depending on if he tastes something sweet or sour. Baby’s scalp hair is growing longer. Baby is getting more rounded, plump, and muscle tone is improving. By week 28, lungs are capable of breathing. Though they don’t actually breathe until birth, they make breathing movements.
EIGHTH MONTH: Baby’s eyes can move in their sockets. Tears can form and more time is spent opening and closing eyelids. Bone marrow is now in charge of red blood cell production. The brain enters another period of rapid growth. All five senses are functioning.
(Baby description, in some places condensed and in part, taken from the MontanaProLifeCoalition.com website.)
The Life Issues Institute's web site has now added 3-D ultrasound pictures. They are beautiful! For those who would like to view a 3-D picture of baby at the preborn age of 11 weeks, 25 weeks, 27 weeks and 33 weeks, go to:
http://www.lifeissues.org/ultrasound/4Dindex.htm
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
What's going on??
Has anyone noticed, or is it my imagination? We are getting days of warm spring-like weather and then comes a cold artic burst with sub-zero temperatures? I am glad the cold spells are short lived!!
Thursday all the animals can again dwell outside, it will, once more, be above freezing! Andy has put together the turtle stand and he and Kathleen will be moving the tank tomorrow. As soon as the dogs and big cats are outside, we can start on spring housecleaning and also change the furniture around! And, the fun begins!
God is good! He always has a new adventure waiting for us.
Thursday all the animals can again dwell outside, it will, once more, be above freezing! Andy has put together the turtle stand and he and Kathleen will be moving the tank tomorrow. As soon as the dogs and big cats are outside, we can start on spring housecleaning and also change the furniture around! And, the fun begins!
God is good! He always has a new adventure waiting for us.
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