1.2relating to state employees; requiring that health insurance benefits be made
1.3available to domestic partners of state employees if they are also made available
1.4to spouses;amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 43A.02, by adding a
1.5subdivision; 43A.24, subdivision 1.
1.6BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7    Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 43A.02, is amended by adding a
1.8subdivision to read:
1.9    Subd. 18a. Domestic partner. "Domestic partner" means a person who has entered
1.10into a committed interdependent relationship with another adult, where the partners:
1.11(1) are responsible for each other's basic common welfare;
1.12(2) share a common residence and intend to do so indefinitely;
1.13(3) are not related by blood or adoption to an extent that would prohibit marriage in
1.14this state; and
1.15(4) are legally competent and qualified to enter into a contract.
1.16For purposes of this subdivision, domestic partners may share a common residence,
1.17even if they do not each have a legal right to possess the residence or one or both domestic
1.18partners possess additional real property.
1.19If one domestic partner temporarily leaves the common residence with the intention
1.20to return, the domestic partners continue to share a common residence for the purposes
1.21of this subdivision.

1.22    Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 43A.24, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.23    Subdivision 1. General. Employees, including persons on layoff from a civil
1.24service position, and employees who are employed less than full time, shall be eligible
2.1for state paid life insurance and hospital, medical and dental benefits as provided in
2.2collective bargaining agreements or plans established pursuant to section 43A.18. If a
2.3collective bargaining agreement or plan provides state paid health insurance for spouses of
2.4employees, the insurance must be made available to domestic partners of state employees
2.5on the same terms and conditions.