Partnership registry proposed

Ralph Becker's "180-Day Action Plan" is under way.

In just his third full day as Salt Lake City mayor, Becker followed through on a campaign promise Thursday by submitting to the City Council an ordinance to create a citywide domestic-partnership registry, giving legal recognition to gay couples and other unmarried unions.

"This registry creates a way for Salt Lake City to recognize relationships of mutual support, caring and commitment," Becker said. "This is an opportunity for us to provide all of Salt Lake City's residents the same level of equality, dignity and respect."

According to the ordinance, qualifying partners would receive a certificate from City Hall attesting to their domestic-partner status, which can be used to assist employers in determining the domestic status of individuals applying for health-care or other benefits.

The ordinance also would extend visitation rights to registered individuals when a domestic partner is being treated at a health-care facility located in Salt Lake City. It also would help ensure that all domestic partners have fair access to the rights and privileges at all facilities owned and operated by the city, such as recreational facilities.

The ordinance likely will be reviewed — and possibly voted upon — by the City Council during its Jan. 22 meeting.

Council chairwoman Jill Remington Love said she believes the City Council will support the ordinance.

"It may not be unanimous," Love said, "but I think the majority of council members will feel comfortable with this."

Love said members of the City Council had been aware the ordinance was coming, having viewed drafts of the ordinance and discussed them with the mayor.

"He's been very collaborative from the minute he was elected, trying to work with the council on some of his human-rights initiatives," she said.

In order to qualify for domestic-partner status, according to the ordinance, individuals must be in a relationship of mutual support, caring and commitment, and be responsible for each other's welfare. In addition, registrants must be each other's sole domestic partner, over 18 years old, competent to contract and share a primary residence in Salt Lake City.

Much of that language was taken from the city ordinance passed Feb. 7, 2006, that extended insurance benefits to adult designees of city workers who live in the same household but are not married to the employee.

"Because (the registry) is so similar to what we've done, it's my hope that we will get unanimous support (of the council)," Love said.