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The Montgomery County Council voted unanimously Tuesday to require some businesses that contract with the county to provide benefits to the same-sex partners of their employees.

Under the bill, sponsored by Councilwoman Nancy Navarro (D-Dist. 4) of Silver Spring, benefits granted to the spouses of county employees would be extended to some employees working for companies that have been awarded county contracts and subcontracts.

Navarro said Tuesday that those benefits include sick leave, dental insurance and family medical leave.

Contractors and subcontractors that are subject to the county's prevailing wage law or the county's wage requirements law would have to meet the new requirement.

Navarro said Tuesday that the bill will only affect employees working on contracts awarded on or after Jan. 1, 2011.

Council President Nancy M. Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park, Vice President Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring and council members George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park, Marc Elrich (D-At large) of Takoma Park, Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Potomac, Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At large) of North Bethesda and Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) Gaithersburg co-sponsored the bill.

Council passes bill regulating some pregnancy centers

The County Council voted Tuesday to require pregnancy centers without licensed medical professionals on staff to post a sign warning women that they are not being advised by medical professionals.

Critics say anti-abortion pregnancy centers — most of which do not have medical professionals on staff — are being unfairly targeted.

The bill, sponsored by Councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At large) of North Bethesda, passed 7-2.

Councilmen Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) Gaithersburg and Michael J. Knapp (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown opposed.

Both said they saw no evidence that the legislation was needed.

"I've never received a single complaint from someone who has gone to a center," Andrews said Tuesday. "I feel like I would have had a complaint by now if there had been a problem."

Andrews' dissent was received with nods of approval from about a dozen anti-abortion advocates in the audience.

The council adopted an amended version of Trachtenberg's bill Tuesday. The original bill applied only to centers that do not provide or refer for abortions. The original version also required a written and verbal warning, but only a written warning is required in the version that passed Tuesday.

Councilman George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park, who chairs the Health and Human Services Committee that took up Trachtenberg's bill, offered the amendments to ensure that the legislation was fair and to address legal questions raised during debate on the bill, he said.

Critics said the original bill restricted free speech.

Jeffrey D. Meister, a spokesman for Maryland Right to Life, said the anti-abortion advocacy group still opposes the legislation.

"They are offended," Meister said of the anti-abortion pregnancy centers. "They see this as a challenge to their integrity."

Trachtenberg's bill was co-sponsored by council President Nancy M. Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park and council members Nancy Navarro (D-Dist. 4) of Silver Spring, George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park, Marc Elrich (D-At large) of Takoma Park and Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Potomac.

People with disabilities get hiring preference from county

Under a bill approved Tuesday by the County Council, people with disabilities will be given hiring preference when applying for Montgomery County government jobs.

The vote was unanimous.

The bill, sponsored by Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg, is believed to be the first of its kind to be passed by a local government in the country, according to council spokesman Neil H. Greenberger.

Under the bill, people with disabilities would be given a hiring preference over equally qualified people without disabilities — a type of affirmative action for the disabled.

The legislation applies only to new county employees.

"If you can do the job, we want to hire you," said Andrews, a longtime advocate for people with disabilities.

Andrews said he hoped the legislation would lead to more people with disabilities working in county government once a hiring freeze in place since fiscal 2009 is lifted.

An amended version of Andrews' bill was approved Tuesday that gives disabled military veterans hiring preference over nondisabled veterans and disabled applicants who are not veterans.

The bill was co-sponsored by council Vice President Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring and council members Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At large) of North Bethesda and Nancy Navarro (D-Dist. 4) of Silver Spring.

Council building racked up $700,000 in utility costs last year

Last year, it cost $700,080 to provide electricity, gas and water to the Montgomery County Council building, at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville, according to signs that have been posted throughout the building.

The signs urge employees to turn off their unused lights, computers and other office equipment to cut costs.

"Cold water is just as effective for washing hands as hot water," the sign reads.

According to the sign, posted by the Department of General Services, electricity costs last year were $588,457, gas was $80,146, and water cost $31,477.