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partners are not related by blood as in a parent and child and for use to verify identity. <br />• Drivers License — The Trust advises this is used to determine that the partner is at least age <br />18 or older, to verify identify and also may be used to show that the two partners share a <br />common address. <br />• Common Will — This could be used to demonstrate a domestic partner relationship by <br />showing that the two partners are each other's beneficiaries. <br />Joint Bank or Credit Accounts — This could be used to show that the partners share financial <br />resources or responsibility. <br />The Board also has asked about the Trust language as to being jointly responsible for "assets <br />and debts as provided by applicable law." The Trust advises that this means, for example, that <br />if a house is jointly owned that this is reflected on the deed for the property or if a mortgage is <br />jointly held that this is reflected on the mortgage documents. <br />In documenting domestic partner relationships, staff plans to work individually with any <br />employee interested in this coverage to ask what documentation they may be able to provide <br />and as necessary to review any questions or issues with the Health Trust. Staff understands <br />from the Trust that Orange County is the first County in the Trust to offer Domestic Partner <br />coverage and the Trust recognizes that it may require some discussion as necessary to address <br />specific situations. <br />Benefits Offered <br />It is proposed that domestic partner coverage include the following benefits. These parallel <br />those that would be available for an employee's spouse. <br />• Dependent health insurance <br />• Dependent dental insurance <br />• Dependent life insurance <br />• Dependent COBRA coverage for continuation of health and dental insurance <br />• Dependent retiree health insurance <br />• Dependent Employee Assistance Program coverage <br />• Funeral Leave <br />• Sick Leave to care for family members <br />• Shared Leave <br />• Family leave of absence (comparable to that required under the Federal Family and Medical <br />Leave Act) <br />The Attachment 1 Personnel Ordinance revisions provides ,for the necessary changes to the <br />County's Personnel Ordinance to implement the above coverage. <br />Estimated Employee Participation <br />For purposes of estimating costs, staff estimated that up to about one percent of employees <br />might decide to participate in domestic partner coverage. This is based on participation rates <br />