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Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Law - In Kentucky "Clash builds on benefits for domestic partners"
Nancy C. Rodriguez and Tom Loftus of the Louisville Courier-Journal report today:
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- While 200 opponents rallied yesterday for a ban on state universities offering domestic-partner benefits to employees, Attorney General Greg Stumbo said the University of Louisville has assured him it will make changes in its plan to make sure it's constitutional.Stumbo's office released a July 23 letter from U of L attorney Angela Koshewa that said "any changes in the University's healthcare offering for the 2008 benefit year will be consistent" with his June 1 attorney general's opinion.
The opinion said public universities could offer partner benefits if they include other people living with employees. Since then, the University of Kentucky has changed its policy to conform with the opinion, with eligible employees receiving the benefits beginning July 1.
U of L began its partner benefits Jan. 1. University officials said yesterday they have always said they would comply with Stumbo's ruling, but they are studying what changes will be needed. * * *
Stumbo's announcement came just hours before about 200 people rallied in the Capitol to urge the Kentucky House to pass a bill that would forbid universities and other public agencies from offering health insurance to domestic partners of employees.
"It is time to bear witness to the fact that the people of Kentucky have stood for marriage, and do stand for marriage now," said Kent Ostrander, executive director of the Lexington-based Family Foundation, which sponsored the rally.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 31, 2007 08:12 AM
Posted to General Law Related