NV Domestic Partnership Bill Passes Key Hurdle

Nevada State Senate Bill 283 creates domestic partnerships for same-sex and opposite-sex couples that give the same rights, protections, and privileges of marriage. It was voted out of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee by a 4-2 vote and will now be considered by the full Senate, where democrats have a slim majority of 12-9.

The bill contains a provision prohibiting private and state public institutions from discriminating between married and partnered couples, sec. 6, § 7. The sponsor of the bill, however, reportedly amended it in committee to exempt local and state governments from being required to pay benefits to domestic partners, according to the Las Vegas Sun. The Nevada State Legislature website has not yet posted the text of the amendment.

As of 2002, the Nevada Constitution limits marriage to opposite-sex couples in an article ironically labeled "Declaration of Rights."