Statewide domestic partner registry filed

Statewide domestic partner registry filed

Tallahassee- State Rep. Linda Stewart (D-Orlando) has filed HB 439, which approved, would create a domestic partner registry for the state of Florida.

The Florida Families Act “authorizes clerk of circuit court to collect filing fee for domestic partner registrations; establishes requirements for domestic partnership; provides that act does not preempt authority of county or municipality to enact domestic partnership ordinance unless in conflict with act,” according to the text of the bill.

It was filed Dec. 18 and is co-sponsored by Janet Cruz (D-Tampa) and Joe Saunders (D-Orlando).

A similar bill was filed in January of 2013 by Sen. Eleanor Sobel (D-Hollywood), and cleared the Florida Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs by a 5 to 4 vote in April, but died in the Judiciary Committee in May.

The bill would grant registered domestic partners a number of rights and protections, including end-of-life decisions, medical care, funeral arrangements and childcare.

According to the bill, fees collected from domestic partner registrations will be used to create a domestic violence trust fund.

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