Domestic Partner Registry Comes to Clearwater
A domestic partner registry that grants couples living together certain medical and educational decision making rights got final unanimous approval from city leaders Thursday.
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A domestic partner registry is coming to Clearwater after city leaders gave final unanimous approval creating it at their meeting Thursday. It should take about 60 days to get it up and running.
The ordinance is modeled after ones passed by Tampa and Gulfport, which is the first Pinellas County city to create one. The St. Petersburg City Council passed their own ordinance creating a registry earlier in the day.
After registering with the city, partners would have a say in decisions regarding: health care facility visitation, health care decisions including those concerning physical and mental health, funeral and burial decisions, pre-need guardian designation, and participation in education.
The ordinance requires the clerk to maintain an online searchable database of the registered partners. The application fee is $30 and $5 for an extra copy of the certificate proving the domestic partnership.
The registry is expected to be ready for its first applicants around Aug. 3.
john
8:04 am on Friday, June 8, 2012
I'm not for "gay marriage" but I'm all for equal rights. Good job Clearwater.
Joe
8:17 am on Friday, June 8, 2012
I am not for "gay marriage" either. I am for "marriage" for all - and this is the first step in the right direction.
Thanks to Mayor Cretekos and the Clearwater City Council.
Mom in Clearwater
9:07 am on Friday, June 8, 2012
Every one already has these rights without registering with the City...Equal rights in these areas are granted already , if you want someone to have the "say so" in any of these areas you , you have a Will drawn up, power of attorney, notarized letter or filling out the proper forms at the hospital, or Dr office. You do not need your city to approve it. Most Insurance companies already allow a domestic partner to benefit from insurance .Local government is joining State and National Government in overstepping bounds.
"After registering with the city, partners would have a say in decisions regarding: health care facility visitation, health care decisions including those concerning physical and mental health, funeral and burial decisions, pre-need guardian designation, and participation in education. "