A story published today by the Rocky Mountain News reports that Denver is considering an ordinance that would allow Colorado couples in "committed" relationships to register with the city clerk's office.

The registry would be open to all couples who are not married, as well as residents outside Denver. Council members Joyce Foster and Ed Thomas are sponsoring the proposed ordinance, which will be heard by a City Council committee later this month.

Under the proposal, committed partners are defined as unmarried adults who share a common household and are not related by blood and are not in any other committed partnership.

"This is another step in providing for the diverse families in our community," Councilwoman Happy Haynes told reporters.

Couples would submit a signed affidavit. If the partners end the relationship, a dissolution document would be filed.

Mayor Wellington Webb supports the legislation. "It's the right thing to do for all our fellow citizens," Webb said.

The proposed ordinance is supported by gay and lesbian organizations. Other groups, including the Gray Panthers and the Colorado chapter of the National Organization of Women, also support it.

Proponents say a registry would help provide documentation for Coors, United Airlines, the city and county of Denver and other employers that offer a variety of benefits to unmarried couples.

More than 30 municipalities in the nation have such a registry.

The following excerpts from the press release pertain to these two bills. Other portions of the press release pertaining to other unrelated bills have been omitted.

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

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L99:181 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 2, 1999

GOVERNOR DAVIS SIGNS LEGISLATION TO PROTECT CALIFORNIANS FROM DISCRIMINATION

SACRAMENTO -- Governor Gray Davis today signed historic legislation that seeks to protect Californians from discrimination based on sexual orientation. The bills signed by Governor Davis are:

AB 26 by Assemblywoman Carole Migden (D-San Francisco). This bill establishes a statewide registry for domestic partnerships and provides hospital visitation rights and health benefits to the domestic partners of state employees. AB 26 defines domestic partners as same sex couples and heterosexual couples age 62 or older that meet certain requirements of financial responsibility.

The governor today also vetoed SB 75 by Senator Kevin Murray (D-Los Angeles) calling the measure overly broad."

click on here for full text of AB 26

click on here for full text of SB 75

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VETO MESSAGE

The veto message, which was attached to the press release, says:

October 2, 1999

To the Members of the Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 75 without my signature because it is overly broad.

However, I have signed Assembly Bill 26, which under specified conditions will allow domestic partners to formalize their relationships through registration with the Secretary of State, allow medical benefits to be extended to domestic partners of state employees, and provide hospital visitation for domestic partners.

Sincerely,