| Delaying Divorce Colorado
HB01-1342
Author: Rep. Dave Schultheis
200 E. Colfax, Room 212
Denver, CO 80203
(303)866-2937
davidschultheis@qwest.net
Purpose:
Would require couples who have children or who are expecting a child to participate in one
year of marriage counseling prior to obtaining a divorce.
Actions taken:
bill introduced on February 16, 2001
failed by a vote of 6-2-1 in Committee
Status: defeated in House Committee on State,
Veterans, and Military Affairs
Civil unions
New Hampshire
HB 454
Author: Daniel C.
Itse
PO Box 70
Fremont, NH 03044-0070
(603)642-5713
Fax (603)642-9403
itse@nh.ultranet.com
Purpose:
Would amend the law to declare that same-sex civil unions contracted outside of the state
of New Hampshire and valid in the jurisdiction where contracted shall not be recognized in
New Hampshire.
Actions taken:
hearing on bill deferred in Committee on February 21, 2001
hearing held on bill in Committee on March 16, 2001
placed in inexpedient to legislate file on March 29, 2001
Status:
pending in House Committee on Children and Family Law
Hawaii
HB
1468
Author: Rep.
Ed Case
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 323
415 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 586-8475
Purpose:
Would create a new legal status of "civil union" and afford the same benefits
and obligations that state law gives to married couples to partners in a "civil
union." This bill would allow two unmarried adults, regardless of gender, to
form a civil union so long as they are not closely related by blood.
Last action: March 5, 2001
Status: died in House Judiciary Committee due to
lack of timely action
Domestic partners
Arkansas
HB 1301
Author: Rep. Jim
Lendall
10625 Legion Hut Road
Mabelvale, AR 72103
(501) 562-0011
jlendall@arkleg.state.ar.us
Purpose: Would set up a domestic
partnership registry with the Secretary of State and allow unmarried couples over the age
of 45 to register. Would require employers and health insurance companies to provide
domestic partner coverage.
Actions taken:
hearing
in House Committee on Insurance & Commerce on Feb. 9, 2001
sponsor requesting leave to withdraw bill on March 27, 2001
Status: pending in committee
Colorado
SB 01-159
Author: Senator Pat Pascoe
200 E. Colfax, Room 338
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 866-4852
Purpose: Would allow a survivor
in a "committed partnership" to inherit without a will when the other partner
dies. Only same-sex couples would be eligible to register with a county clerk as
"committed partners" under this law. Unmarried opposite-sex couples and
two unmarried blood relatives are excluded from the protections of this bill.
Actions taken:
passed Senate Judiciary Committee (4 to 3) on February 5, 2001
defeated on Senate floor on February 22, 2001
Status: failed on Senate floor
SB
139
Author: Senator Marilyn
Musgrave
200 E. Colfax, Room 338
Denver, CO 80203
(303)
866-4852
Purpose:
Would declare that same-sex domestic partnerships are against the strong public policy of
Colorado, would prohibit use of state funds to extend employee benefits to gay and lesbian
partners, and would ensure that private sector employers could not be forced to extend
such benefits.
Actions taken:
introduced on January 26, 2001
failed in Committee by a vote of 4-3 on February 12, 2001
Status: defeated in Senate Judiciary Committee
Maine
LD 1420
Author: Rep. Stavros Mendros
135 Hogan Road
Lewiston, ME 04240
RepStavros.Mendros@state.me.us
Purpose: Would require
employer to extend employee benefits to someone other than the employee or spouse or
dependent of the employee with whom the employee cohabitates regardless of gender or
relationship between the employee or the individual
Actions taken:
introduced on March 5, 2001
referred to Committee on Banking & Insurance
failed in committee May 24,2001
Status: failed in committee
Virginia
SB 1226
Author: Senator
Mary Margaret Whipple
General Assembly Building, Room 430
Capitol Square
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 698-7531
Purpose: Would allow Arlington County by
ordinance to provide that under the county's self-funded health plan, coverage may be
extended to one adult dependent, who may be an employee's spouse or other adult who meets
criteria established by the county.
Last action: January 30, 2001; in Committee on
Local Government
Status: defeated in committee on a vote of 9 to
6
Joint adoptions by unmarried
adults
New Hampshire
HB 191
Author: Rep. Raymond Buckley
24 Gabrielle St
Manchester, NH 03103-3902
(603)668-7151
repbuckley@aol.com
Purpose:
Would permit two unmarried adults to jointly adopt a child.
Actions taken:
hearing in Committee on Children and Family Law on Jan. 30, 2001
referred to subcommitee work session for Februrary 13, 2001
Status: defeated in the House by a vote of
200-120 on March 23, 2001
Contraceptive Funding
South Carolina
HB 3687
Author: House Ways and Means Committee
Post Office Box 11867
Columbia, S.C. 29211-1867
HWM@scstatehouse.net
Purpose:
General appropriations bill with a section that eliminates funding for Department of
Health and Human Services on contraceptive drugs and devices to unmarried persons.
Prohibition on funding for abortion with exceptions.
Actions taken:
introduced March 6, 2001; referred to House Finance Committee.
March 15, 2001 referred to Senate Finance Committee
May 31, 2001 failed in committee
Status: failed in committee |
