1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state employees; requiring that health insurance benefits be made 
1.3 	available to domestic partners of state employees if they are also made available 
1.4 	to spouses;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 43A.02, by adding a 
1.5 	subdivision; 43A.24, subdivision 1.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.02, is amended by adding a 
1.8 	subdivision to read:
1.9 		Subd. 18a.Domestic partner. "Domestic partner" means a person who has entered 
1.10 	into a committed interdependent relationship with another adult of the same sex, where 
1.11 	the partners:
1.12 	(1) are responsible for each other's basic common welfare;
1.13 	(2) share a common residence and intend to do so indefinitely;
1.14 	(3) are not related by blood or adoption to an extent that would prohibit marriage in 
1.15 	this state; and 
1.16 	(4) are legally competent and qualified to enter into a contract.
1.17 	For purposes of this subdivision, domestic partners may share a common residence, 
1.18 	even if they do not each have a legal right to possess the residence or one or both domestic 
1.19 	partners possess additional real property.
1.20 	If one domestic partner temporarily leaves the common residence with the intention 
1.21 	to return, the domestic partners continue to share a common residence for the purposes 
1.22 	of this subdivision.

1.23 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.24, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.1 		Subdivision 1.General. Employees, including persons on layoff from a civil 
2.2 	service position, and employees who are employed less than full time, shall be eligible 
2.3 	for state paid life insurance and hospital, medical and dental benefits as provided in 
2.4 	collective bargaining agreements or plans established pursuant to section 43A.18.  If a 
2.5 	collective bargaining agreement or plan provides state paid health insurance for spouses of 
2.6 	employees, the insurance must be made available to domestic partners of state employees 
2.7 	on the same terms and conditions.