Nevada's New Domestic Partnership Act

The Nevada Domestic Partnership Act, passed by the 2009 Nevada Legislature over a veto by Gov. Jim Gibbons, takes effect on October 1st. Under the new law, certificates of domestic partnership are available to couples living together regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Straight or gay, same or opposite sex, Nevada couples who register as domestic partners will now be recognized as a unit and extended rights similar to those held by married couples. This is specifically not, however, gay marriage as recognized in several other states such as Massachusetts and Iowa. Nevada is one of those states whose constitution specifically states that marriage is only recognized as between a man and a woman.

The act does not require businesses or government entities to recognize the domestic partners of employees for purposes such as providing health insurance, but it does not prohibit them from doing so. The State of Nevada plans to begin offering coverage for domestic partners starting with fiscal year 2010-2011. Locally, the City of Reno and the Washoe County School District have both adopted resolutions extending health benefits to the domestic partners of employees under the same conditions as dependents. Washoe County and the City of Sparks are taking the position that such an extension of benefits represents an added expense and therefore must be negotiated with their respective employee bargaining units.

Couples may pre-file a declaration as domestic partners from August 24 through September 24, 2009, but will not receive a certificate recognizing their new status until the effective date of October 1 or soon thereafter. The filing fee is $50 and the signatures of both partners must be notarized. For more information on eligibility and how to file a domestic partnership, go to Reno and the Domestic Partnership Act.

Sources: Nevada Secretary of State, Reno Gazette-Journal.

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