Los Angeles Times Examines Domestic Partner Laws, Related Health Benefits
The Los Angeles Times on Wednesday examined state and local governments -- including West Hollywood and California -- that offer domestic partnership certificates by mail to couples nationwide, in part to allow partners to enroll in employer-sponsored health plans. An unnamed spokesperson for the California secretary of state said the out-of-state provisions were necessary to allow former state employees who moved from the state to qualify for pension benefits and to help residents of other states enroll in corporate health plans.
West Hollywood's domestic partner registry was enacted in part to provide HIV-positive same-sex couples with "basic rights within the city limits," such as hospital visits, according to the Times. All couples on West Hollywood's registry interviewed by the Times said they registered to give a partner access to an employer-sponsored benefit plans.
This year, 193 out-of-state couples have registered in West Hollywood. Seattle and Hawaii also allow nonresident domestic partners to register via mail (Fausset, Los Angeles Times, 12/1).