the Daily Herald
One of Utah’s freshman House members wants to change state law to allow for domestic partner benefits to be offered to state employees.
Rep. Brian Doughty, D-Salt Lake City, has drafted House Bill 64 to allow state employees to claim as a dependent on their insurance anyone older than 18 years of age who has lived in the same residence as the employee for at least 12 months. The adult dependent would have to show they have a common financial obligation as the policy holder, such as sharing a loan or bank account.
The bill essentially creates the ability for gay employees to add their partner to their benefits, but Doughty says the issue is about helping all types of families in Utah, not just gay employees. It could also apply to unmarried heterosexual couples.
“We have various forms of families in Utah,” said Doughty, the Legislature’s only openly gay representative. “Not all Utah families are families with a mother and a father.”
Doughty said he wants the law changed so the state is an actual reflection of its residents. He noted that Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County already offer benefits in this manner and felt the state should do the same.
“I’m looking to Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County for guidance on this,” he said. “They’ve seen it as a morale builder for those who participate in the program.”
The bill may have a tough road ahead; the Republican-dominated Legislature isn’t keen on passing bills that deal with LGBT issues. In the 2011 session state lawmakers killed a bill in committee that would have opened up adoption rights to gay parents. They also let another bill dealing with anti-discrimination ordinances in housing to stay in the Senate Rules committee until the session ended, despite efforts by Democratic lawmakers to bring the bill onto the Senate floor.
“It could cause some legislators to have a little grief with it, but I think it is a good bill,” Doughty said.
House majority leader Brad Dee, R-Washington Terrace, said the GOP caucus has not discussed if it would be willing to pass any bills seen as favorable to the gay community; he noted that Republicans in the House are focused on other items.
“The issues we are mainly concerned with are the budget, and making sure we don’t raise taxes this year, and funding education,” Dee said.
Doughty was unsure of the projected costs of the proposed law as he was still waiting for legislative staff to return a fiscal note on the bill. State lawmakers will have their chance to debate the bill coming up in the state’s 45-day legislative session, which starts Monday.
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Ogden City, Salt Lake County, UAGE, Utah State | 
January 20, 2012 10:28 am | 
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