View full sizeAutism awareness ribbonA group of city of Portland staffers wants the city to offer new health coverage for family members with autism, and they're taking their case today to the board that decides Portland's benefits package.
Portland's labor-management benefits committee, a 12-person board of union representatives and city administrators, has the power to decide what health problems get covered and how under Portland's self-insurance fund for employees. But the group's rules require consensus, or 10 votes, to add new benefits.
The board's behind-the-scenes role in shaping Portland's health coverage came into focus last summer
for transgender city employees. The board had twice rejected that benefit because its members failed to reach consensus. However, a majority of the board supported the move in a 2011 vote. Adams, using his power to overrule the committee, then took the matter to the Portland City Council, which approved gender-reassignment surgery.
-- human resources director until April 30, when she retires -- oversees the board. She declined, through a representative, to comment on the push by some employees to get new coverage for autism.
But employees have been meeting with city commissioners, including Commissioner Amanda Fritz, to make their case, and the benefits committee will hear about the matter at its meetings today.
It is unclear how much the proposal might cost the city.
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