EL PASO — El Paso County Commissioners will discuss extending benefits to domestic partners of county employees during Commissioners Court Monday morning.
The county estimated 24 employees would likely apply for the benefits at a cost of less than $24,000 to the county for the next fiscal year.
In the proposal the county defines a domestic partner as someone who lives in the same house, shares the same resources, and is in a relationship with the county employee.
The partner can be of the same or opposite sex, but the two people must not be related by blood and need to have lived together for at least a year.
The county is proposing employees and partners provide proof of partnership with at least three of the following:
-Joint deed or mortgage agreement to demonstrate common ownership or real property
or a common leasehold interest in property;
-Common ownership of a motor vehicle;
-Driver's licenses listing a common address;
-Proof of joint bank accounts or credit accounts;
-Proof of designation as the primary beneficiary for life insurance or retirement benefits,
or primary beneficiary designation under a partner's will and/or;
-Assignment of a durable property power of attorney or health care power of attorney.
The benefits would also extend to dental, vision and life the same cost offered to other employees that are eligible for coverage.
As written in the proposal, the county would require the employees and their partners to sign a declaration of partnership before receiving any benefits.
If the relationship were to end, the employee would have to inform the county the relationship is over through a signed declaration.
The county had been working on providing domestic partnership benefits since 2009.
In August 2009 commissioners postponed the item, then deleted it entirely for the county's risk pool board to evaluate the proposal.
Last year the county did not have enough votes to move the proposal forward.
Commissioners meet Monday morning at 9:30.
Where:
El Paso County Courthouse
500 E. San Antonio
Commissioners Court Chambers
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