Monday, June 01, 2009

Nevada 17th State to Recognize Same-sex Couples

Despite the citizens' 2002 constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman, the state Assembly overrode the governor's veto on the bill giving legal rights to domestic partners.

-- From "With veto override, domestic partners bill becomes law" by Cy Ryan posted at the Las Vegas Sun 5/31/09

[Gov. Jim Gibbons], in his veto message, said the voters in 2002 felt “the right of marriage should apply only to married couples, only the voters should determine whether those rights should equally apply to domestic partners.”

Voters approved that amendment 337,197 to 164,573.

Senate Bill 283 provides domestic partners the same rights in such things as community property responsibility for debt to third parties and the right to seek financial support if they split up.

The vote was 28-14, the bare minimum needed to overturn the decision of the governor. It follows the 14-7 vote in the Senate Saturday and puts the bill into law.

The partners, whether of the same or opposite sex, would register with the Secretary of State’s Office for legal recognition. And if they split, they would file dissolution of the registration.

The bill says domestic partners have the same rights, protections and benefits that are ranged or imposed upon spouses.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.