Sunday, October 20, 2002
University of Hawaii to revive reciprocal benefits
A story released today by the Honolulu Advertiser reports that the University of Hawaii will ask the coming 2003 state Legislature to authorize reciprocal health benefits for domestic partners of university employees.
Such a measure could cover same-sex partnerships as well as unmarried heterosexual partnerships or even partnerships consisting of a parent and child.
Successful passage of such a measure could effectively reauthorize a reciprocal beneficiaries law for state employees that was in force for two years but lapsed in 1999 when the Legislature did not to renew it.
Under its medical plan, the university faculty union provides coverage of health benefits for domestic partners of university personnel. About half a dozen people utilize this benefit, said the union.
