Recognition of same-sex unions in Colorado occurs within the framework of designated beneficiary agreements, effectual since July 1, 2009. These agreements grant limited rights, such as funeral arrangements and death benefits for same-sex partners.
Since 2006, the Constitution of Colorado was amended to limit recognition of same-sex unions by banning same-sex marriage and common law marriages between same-sex partners. Civil unions are not banned by the state constitution, although they are not currently offered in state law.
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Designated beneficiary agreements
Since July 1, 2009 unmarried couples have been able to enter a designated beneficiary agreement - similar to reciprocal beneficiary relationships in Hawaii - which will grant them limited rights, including making funeral arrangements for each other, receiving death benefits, and inheriting property without a will.[1] The law, House Bill 1260, will be valid for estate planning, property purchases, medical decisions and certain benefits such as life-insurance and retirement-plan disbursements and was signed by Governor Bill Ritter on April 9, 2009.[2]
Economic impact
A UCLA study estimates the impact of establishing domestic partnership for same-sex couples on Colorado's state budget. The study concludes that allowing same-sex couples to enter into domestic partnerships under the "Colorado Domestic Partnership Benefits and Responsibilities Act" will result in a net gain of approximately $1.2 million each year for the state[3]. This net increase will result from savings in expenditures on state means-tested public benefits programs and from an increase in sales tax revenue from registration celebrations.
References
- ^ "Ritter signs bill that will help gay couples". Associated Press (The Denver Post). 2009-04-09. http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_12109357. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
- ^ Ingold, John (2009-04-10). "Law eases estate planning for unwed and gay couples". The Denver Post. http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_12109357. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
- ^ M.V. Lee Badgett, Brad Sears, Roger Lee, and Danielle MacCartney, "The Impact of the Colorado Domestic Partnership Act on Colorado's State Budget" (October 1, 2006). The Williams Institute. Paper badgett_2. http://repositories.cdlib.org/uclalaw/williams/badgett_2
External links
- "House Bill 09-1260" (PDF). Colorado General Assembly. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2009a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/7B41525D3772D99987257547006300AE?open&file=1260_ren.pdf.
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