Las Vegas NowNevada legislative panel endorses domestic partner bill
Associated Press - May 12, 2009 6:05 PM ET
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - On a party-line vote, the Assembly Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday for a bill to give domestic partners, whether gay or straight, many of the rights and benefits that Nevada offers to married couples.
Republicans were outvoted by Democrats who control the committee as SB283 moved to the full Assembly. If approved there, it must return to the Senate, where it was backed previously, for a review of Assembly amendments. Gov. Jim Gibbons has threatened to veto the plan.
Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, the openly gay sponsor of SB283, says domestic partnerships have been upheld across the country.
The measure provides that domestic partners have the same rights as married couples in matters such as community property and responsibility for debts. It also prohibits discrimination against domestic partners.
SB283 also states that no public employers in Nevada are required to provide health care benefits to or for the domestic partner of an officer or employee.
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