House passes bill to let local governments decide on domestic partners benefits

The Minnesota House passed a bill Thursday that would allow local governmental units to offer benefits to employees on whatever basis they see fit. A unique set of Minnesota statutes prohibits municipalities such as towns, cities and counties from providing benefits to anyone other than a spouse or dependent child. The bill would expand existing statutes to allow such municipalities to decide how best to offer benefits.

In 1993 the city of Minneapolis began offering domestic partner benefits to its gay and lesbian employees — in fact all unmarried but partnered employees. The Minnesota Supreme Court struck down Minneapolis’ partner benefits program after Republican activist Jim Lilly sued the city.

“This bill is a common-sense and fair solution to helping provide Minnesota families with the security of health care,” said Monica Meyer, public policy director for OutFront Minnesota.  “At the same time, it allows local governments to make the best decisions for their own communities.”

OutFront, an advocacy group for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, says the bill does not force any municipality to change its benefits packages and does not include language pertaining to domestic partners.

A similar bill passed the Senate in April and  will be sent to Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who has promised to veto the measure under pressure from religious right groups.