Section 50-1-8. Election to contractually provide to unmarried persons benefits, rights, or privileges provided to married persons

   (a) It is the policy of this state that any organization or person in this state may elect to, or elect not to, contractually provide to unmarried persons one or more benefits, rights, or privileges in the same manner that such organization or person contractually provides benefits, rights, or privileges to married persons.

(b) State and local government shall not impose any penalty on or withhold any benefits, rights, or privileges from any organization or person on the basis of such organization's or person's election to or election not to contractually or otherwise provide to unmarried persons one or more benefits, rights, or privileges in the same manner that such organization or person contractually or otherwise provides benefits, rights, or privileges to married persons.

(c) Subsection (b) of this Code section shall apply to the state and any political subdivision of the state and to any department, agency, authority, commission, or other entity of the state or any political subdivision of the state.

(d) As used in this Code section, the term "organization" includes but is not limited to any corporation, association, nonprofit organization, limited liability company, partnership, group, authority, or other entity, including any political subdivision of this state.

Code 1981, § 50-1-8, enacted by Ga. L. 2005, p. 452, § 1/HB 67.