As for the term "domestic partnerships," Becker said it is a common term for an established relationship of mutual dependence.

"It's the standard term in many states and many, many cities," he said. "I don't know why we would want to depart from what has become a common term for recognizing this kind of relationship."

Bell's bill essentially replaces SB267, which sought to prohibit counties or municipalities from establishing a registry to recognize a domestic partnership other than marriage. Doomed by its troubled sponsor, Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, the bill was sent to the Senate Rules Committee last week where it likely will remain the rest of the session.

The Senate voted Monday to allow Bell to open a late bill file on the same issue.

House Majority Leader David Clark, R-Santa Clara, said he hadn't see Bell's bill, but he said the House's reception of the bill would be independent of the shadow cast by Buttars' situation.

"The challenge is, does the underlying principle remain the same?" Clark said. "Irregardless of Sen. Buttars and Sen. Bell, is there an underlying appetite to change the policy?"

Bell said he's been working with Salt Lake City officials on the modified bill and that it will be different from Buttars' bill.

"We're trying to sculpt something that's acceptable to the stakeholders," he said.

Becker said he received a message Monday night from Bell in which the senator promised to share the bill's language with him when it's drafted.

"I've known Sen. Bell for a long time, and I have a great deal of respect for him," said Becker, a former legislator. "I'm certainly interested in talking to him about what his proposal is."

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