ORD-2004-106 - Benefits for Domestic Partners - Implementation and Personnel Ordinance Revisions

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should be limited to persons of the same gender or may be offered to both persons of the same or opposite gender. The proposed definition below provides for coverage for both persons of the same or opposite gender. As incorporated in the Attachment 1 Personnel Ordinance revision, the proposed definition of domestic partner is as follows: Domestic Partner — A person of the same or opposite gender, not related by blood to the . employee, who is not legally married to any other person, and who shares the following with the employee: 1) an exclusive, committed relationship as provided in the Declaration of Domestic Partnership statement, 2) a residence, and 3) responsibility for each other's common welfare and financial obligations. To qualify for Domestic Partner coverage (under the provisions of the County's health insurance plan), the employee and his or her Domestic Partner must meet all of the following criteria and sign a Declaration of Domestic Partnership (Attachment 2) attesting that they are: • At least 18 years old and mentally competent to consent to a civil contract, • Not acting under force or duress, • Not related by blood, • Not legally married to any other person and not engaged in another domestic partner relationship, • Are engaged in a committed relationship of mutual caring and support that has existed for at least 12 consecutive months, • Currently reside together and intend to do so permanently, • Responsible for each other's common welfare and either. ✓ Are jointly responsible for their assets and debts as provided by applicable law, or ✓ Have executed a written agreement or civil contract which defines their domestic partner relationship and their liabilities with respect to their assets and debts. • Not Medicare eligible. To document the domestic partner relationship, the County's health insurance provider requires two forms of proof along with the Declaration. Acceptable forms of such documentation include Birth Certificates, Drive's license or state - issued Identification Card, Common Will, Joint Bank or Credit Accounts, Life Insurance Policy designating the Domestic Partner as a beneficiary or the like. NCACC Health Insurance Trust Language Clarifications In follow up to the September 21 Board discussion, the Health Trust confirmed again that it does require that the County use its specific language in defining domestic partner status and in its Declaration of Domestic Partner Status form. In follow up to the Board's questions at the September 21 meeting, the Trust provided the following clarifications as to the meaning of its language: • Birth Certificate — The Trust representative acknowledged this document does not establish a domestic partner relationship but is here for the purpose of establishing that the two