Judge OKs Domestic Partner Bennies for SLC

None by KCPW

Other Cities May Soon Follow Suit

(KCPW News) Now that a judge has determined offering benefits to domestic partners is legal and does not violate Utah's gay marriage ban, Salt Lake City is preparing to enroll the handful of roommates, family members and same-sex partners of employees that are eligible. An attorney for the state's health plan, which administers municipal benefits statewide, says other cities may soon follow suit.

"There have been other cities that have talked about it, but no one has formally sent in a proposal to PEHP to administer those benefits," Dave Hansen, attorney for hte Public Employees Health Program, or PEHP. "My guess is that we'll have some in the future, but we haven't had any yet."

Hansen represented PEHP in requesting the court's guidance on offering domestic partner benefits. The judge's ruling finds benefits are defined by the relationship between an employer and employee, and have nothing to do with marriage status. Therefore, offering benefits to an adult designee that is not the employee's spouse does not equate to legalizing same-sex unions. According to the benefits plan adopted by the Salt Lake City Council late last year, unmarried city employees can sign up "adult designees" for health insurance if the two live together and are financially dependent. The council will subsidize the plan by about $225,000 a year.

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