Domestic Partnerships Defined in Maryland

Late last week, a joint Maryland state House-Senate committee approved a new regulation that defines domestic partnerships. A state law passed last year required not only health insurers to offer domestic partner coverage to companies that request it, but also the Maryland Insurance Administration to define domestic partnerships. The law took effect January 1.

The regulation defines domestic partners as a couple whose members are at least 18 years of age and "who for at least six months have been in a committed relationship of mutual interdependence." The definition is extended to straight or gay partners. Couples may verify their status with documentation such as a will, a statement from a joint bank account, or state-issued identification cards or drivers' licenses with a common address.

After passing the committee vote, the rule will go into a public input phase before it officially goes into effect. Conservative groups and Republican lawmakers have already criticized the rule's passage saying "it sanctifies cohabitation by straight couples." During the debate leading up to the vote, Cecil County Delegate Michael Smigiel (R) asked the committee, "Are we not promoting what in the past we would call shacking up? A domestic partnership is a gay marriage, that's what it is."

Openly gay state Senator Richard Madaleno (D) plans to introduce legislation to legalize same-sex marriage, but Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have said they won't support it.

Photo by jeffq