Of concerns that the bill would initiate a slippery slope to gay marriage, Bell said: "I will be the first to kick myself to hell if I have started that process."

Monte Stewart and Bill Duncan of the Marriage Law Foundation and Richard Wilkins, Lynn Wardle and Camille Williams of Brigham Young University signed the letter stating that SB89 "complies with Amendment 3," even though same-sex couples are among those who would qualify for the benefits.

" . . . the accommodation created by SB89 does not walk, talk and act like a marriage," the statement says. "Even all the benefits available by the contract, when taken together, fall short of that large 'laundry basket' of marital rights and benefits that must be present . . . before the accommodation runs afoul of Amendment 3."

Bell acknowledged that he has some lobbying to do before the bill comes to a final Senate vote as early as Monday. He says he also expects opposition in the House.

"This legal opinion is so impressive," he said. "If people will think inside the bill and read that legal opinion, I don't know how they can argue 'slippery slope.' "

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has not taken a position on SB89, said spokesman Dale Bills. The church had issued a statement indicating support for Amendment 3.

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com