Amendment to Domestic Partner Ordinance Proposed

POSTED: Monday, December 13, 2010 - 10:15am
UPDATED: Monday, December 13, 2010 - 12:41pm
EL PASO - City Council is once again expected to take on the issue of domestic partner benefits at tomorrow's council meeting.
Council member Rachel Quintana has put an item on the agenda to amend the ordinance that blocked domestic partners of city employees from receiving health care benefits.
The ordinance also inadvertently took away benefits from some retirees.
Quintana is proposing changes that would allow current employees to keep their benefits.
Retired police offices and judges are among those who are set to lose benefits when the ordinance takes affect next year.
We spoke to the lawyer representing the El Paso Police Union.
He said even this amendment won't go far enough to protect officers.
The union will likely file a lawsuit against the City before the end of the year.
Comments News Comments
All they have to do is change the wording to define, "A domestic partner as that of a relationship between and man and a woman." Personally they shoud require a marriage certificate. Under the eyes of the law if you are considering yourself partners then you are considered to be married and a certificate should be no big deal. If they are trying to avoid the expense of a wedding, then allow them to pay $50 sign a certificate and that is it.


