Sarasota Domestic Partner Registry Goes To Vote Monday

Couples looking to have certain rights garaunteed to married couples may have a victory Monday in Sarasota.

The City Commission is set to vote on the second reading of the Domestic Partner Registry ordinance to establish a way to recognize committed couples who would want rights regarding decision making for health care, funerals, education and other matters. The partnership would be allowed for both opposite and same-sex couples.

The first reading was approved 5-0 at the Oct. 1 meeting. The city already recognized domestic partnerships for city employees where domestic partners can share health and life benefits. Monday's vote is set for the evening portion of the agenda, after 6 p.m., at City Hall.

Here's what the partnership would do:

It specifies the following rights and legal effects:

• Health Care Facility Visitation
• Health Care Decisions
• Funeral/burial Decisions
• Notification of Family Members
• Pre-need guardian designation
• Participation in Education

According to the ordinance, domestic partners are two adults who have chosen to share one another's lives in a family relationship. Two persons are considered to be domestic partners if:

• They consider themselves to be members of each other's immediate family.
• They agree to be jointly responsible for each other's welfare.
• Neither of them is married under the laws of the State of Florida, is a member of another domestic partnership, or civil union with anyone other than the co-applicant.
• They are not blood related in a way that would prevent them from being married to each other under Florida state law.
• Each is at least 18 years of age and competent to contract. 

The second reading of the ordinance will have a measure where the city will take care of filing the affidavit with the county Clerk of the Court, and would build in the $10 charge into the registration fee.

If the ordinance is approved on second reading, a 90-day period would be set up for the City Auditor and Clerk to prepare the legal forms and fees for commission approval.

Related Coverage:

• Group Wants Domestic Registry In Sarasota
• Sarasota Closer To Having Domestic Partner Registry