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1985-1989 Vermont Attorney General Reports and Opinions 1 (1985-1989)

handle is hein.sag/sagvt0040 and id is 1 raw text is: -1T T 1) -!jE I V OrPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM E.GRIFFIN CHIEF ASST. ArTOuNtY GENERAL STATE OF VERMONT OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 19 STATE STREET M0NTPE LIA 05602 yTEL.. 902*428-3171 MEMORANDUM Office of Attorney General TO: MEMBERS OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FROM: JEFFREY L. AMESTO torney General RE: ERA AND SEXUAL PREFERENCE DATE: January 30, 1985 The question has been put as to whether the proposed Equal Rights Amendment's prohibition against discrimination on account of a person's sex' Vould also constitutionally prohibit discrimination on the basis of an individual's sexual preference. In my opinion, the ERA as presently drafted would forbid only gender based discrimination under state law. Principles of statutory construction are applicable to interpreting the .Constitution in order to ascertain and give affect to the intent and purpose of the authors and the people who adopted it. 16 C.J.S., Constitutional Law SS15, 16. Undefined statutory terms are to be given their plain and commonly accepted meaning. Maurice Callahan and Sons, Inc. v. Armstrong, 125 Vt. 213 (1965). In the event of any ambiguity, the history and derivation of the legislative act should be examined. In re James, 99 Vt. 265 (1926). '