FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) – Equal rights activists are applauding Broward County commissioners after they approved the state’s first countywide Equal Benefits Ordinance (EBO) Tuesday.

The measure requires the county’s vendors provide domestic partners with benefits that are equal to those offered to spouses of married couples.

“By enacting this ordinance, Broward County adopts one of the nation’s most significant policies furthering workplace equality”, said Stratton Pollitzer, deputy director for Equality Florida. “Today, Broward County continues its long history of leadership in the area of human rights by delivering on the promise of equal pay for equal work.”

The EBO applies to vendors who are in contracts with the county worth $100,000 or more and employ more than five people. However, if a company does not currently provide benefits to the spouses of their employees, they are not required to provide benefits to employee’s domestic partners.

In 2005, Miami Beach became the first city in the state to pass an EBO and has reported no negative fiscal impact since.