Tomorrow, the Oregon Senate plans to debate and vote on House Bill 2007, the Oregon Family Fairness Act. Already passed in the Oregon House and by a Senate Committee, HB 2007 would grants rights, responsponsibilities and protections currently only available via a marriage contract within the State of Oregon but with some limitations... about 1,143 of them.
Some of the limits of this legislation include:
No Portability: Unlike marriage, the protections afforded to a same-sex couple through a civil union are only available within the borders the state of Oregon. In other words, a same-sex couple traveling to another state or country will have none of the protections granted by civil unions.
No Federal Benefits: Unlike married couples, same-sex couples in a civil union gain no benefits under federal law, like filing of joint federal income taxes or entitlement to social security survivor benefits.
Residency Requirement: Unlike marriage, there is an Oregon state residency requirement to enter into a civil union.
Solemnization Unnecessary: Unlike marriage, a civil union is simply a civil contract, and does not require solemnization by a judicial officer, county clerk or member of the clergy.
Different Dissolution: Unlike dissolution of marriage (divorce), only Oregon courts can dissolve a civil union – regardless of where a couple seeking to “divorce” may live.
The other 1,138 rights, responsibilities and protections that come with marriage at the federal level are not available via Oregon's new Domestic Partnerships.Labels: domestic partnership, HB 2007, legislature, oregon
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 10:03 AM.
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