Equal Benefits Ordinance Disclosure Form Summary

This document is an Equal Benefits Ordinance (EBO) disclosure and certification form issued by the City of Long Beach that applies to contractors and vendors awarded contracts with the City. The EBO requires selected contractors to comply with nondiscrimination provisions regarding employee benefits as specified in Long Beach Municipal Code section 2.73 et seq. The ordinance mandates that during contract performance, contractors shall provide equal benefits to employees with spouses and employees with domestic partners, including health benefits, bereavement leave, family medical leave, membership discounts, moving expenses, retirement benefits, and travel benefits. The EBO applies to for-profit employers with City contracts valued at $100,000 or more for goods, services, public works, improvements, or construction projects, as well as for-profit entities generating $350,000 or more in annual gross receipts from leasing City property under written agreements exceeding 29 days in any calendar year.

Contractors subject to the EBO must certify compliance before contract execution by completing the EBO Certification Form and submitting the form to the City. The form requires contractors to provide contractor/vendor information, answer compliance questions regarding employee benefits, indicate whether benefits to spouses are identical to benefits for domestic partners, and submit required documentation such as employee handbooks and eligibility statements. The ordinance allows for implementation delays under specific circumstances: up to two years if the contractor submits evidence of reasonable compliance efforts, up to three months for administrative infrastructure changes, or upon expiration of current collective bargaining agreements. Material breach of EBO requirements may result in contract cancellation, termination, suspension, or deeming the contractor an irresponsible bidder with disqualification from City contracting for three years, along with potential liquidated damages and other legal remedies.