Fla. City Adds Domestic Partner Benefits

The Tallahassee Democrat reported that the policy change provides employees’ same- or opposite-sex domestic partners the same benefits currently available to married employees’ spouses. The city’s change will allow city employees to include their partners for health, dental, vision and other benefits coverage.

The policy requires the couple to have been together for a number of years to be eligible for benefits. In an effort to avoid fraud, employees will need to provide some proof for the benefits, such as joint rental leases or a mortgage and joint-bank accounts.

Parsons said the percentage of employees receiving those benefits is between .5% and 2.5% or, in Tallahassee’s case, 12 to 57 people.

City Commissioners also agreed to include sexual orientation and identity under the city’s Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policies and Procedures, the newspaper reported.