State Employee Domestic Partner Benefits Bill

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Senator Michael Jungbauer (far right) asked whether offering domestic partner benefits was a "back door to same-sex marriage." OutFront Minnesota Legislative Lobbyist C. Scott Cooper responded, "We're not asking for marriage. Marriage is not part of this." He also addressed concerns that Minnesota could find itself the subject of a court ruling mandating marriage for GLBT people. Cooper said that providing domestic partner benefits possibly could make Minnesota less likely to face such a court case because it would be showing that it's not discriminating against its employees. The committee voted 6-3 in favor of re-instating domestic partner benefits for state employees.

Retired state employee John Rittman testified about the effect it had on him and his partner of 33 years when the state employee domestic partner benefits were withdrawn. John said he felt devalued when he received a letter in the mail saying his partner would no longer be covered by his insurance.

Senator John Marty, John Rittman (who spoke in favor of the bill) and John's partner Tom talk after the Senate Committee on State and Local Government Operations voted March 9th to re-instate domestic partner benefits for state employees.

State Employee Domestic Partner Benefits Bill

Contact your Minnesota Representative and Minnesota Senator and express your disappointment at the removal of the bill from consideration for this year. Tell them you support GLBT equality and you want them to support it as well.

READ FULL TALKING POINTS AND BACKGROUND

Text of Bill
House Version HF 1618
Senate Version SF 1369

Status of Bill
This bill is no longer being considered for the 2007 session. On May 3rd, a House-Senate conference committee voted to remove this provision from an omnibus spending bill and decided instead to investigate the cost of providing health benefits to "significant individuals" who share a residence.

Senate sponsors: Senator Sandra Pappas (chief author), Senators Richard Cohen, Paul Koering, Ann Rest, and Thomas Bakk
House sponsors: Representative Phyllis Kahn (chief author), Representatives Cy Thao, Steve Simon, Ron Erhardt, Tom Rukavina, Melissa Hortman, Bill Hilty, Erin Murphy, Tim Mahoney, Nora Slawik, and Thomas Huntley.

Press Releases
Hospital Visitation and DP Benefits Advance / March 22nd
Bills for Fairness Move Forward in the Senate / March 12th
Senate Committee Passes Domestic Partner Bill / March 9th

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