DENVER—A Senate committee has backed a proposal to extend health insurance benefits to the same-sex partners of state employees.
The Business, Labor and Technology Committee voted 4-3 on Wednesday to send the measure (Senate Bill 88) to the appropriations committee.
Under the bill, same-sex partners of state employees could be covered under their partner’s health and dental insurance. Fiscal analysts estimate it would cost the state an extra $116,000 a year.
The measure is opposed by Focus on the Family’s policy arm as well as the Colorado Catholic Conference. They say it violates the will of voters, who rejected a ballot measure giving rights to domestic partners in 2006.
Sen. Jennifer Veiga says that measure detailed many other rights and that her bill only deals with health care.
