Union asks district to restore domestic‑partnership health coverage; district to seek legal guidance
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Summary
Union negotiators asked the district to permit teachers in legally recognized domestic partnerships to enroll partners in the district health plan; the district said the issue requires legal review and consultation with counsel.
Union negotiators proposed restoring language permitting any teacher in a legally recognized domestic partnership to enroll a partner in the district’s health insurance plan. The union cited scenarios where legal marriage is not a viable option — for instance, some individuals with disabilities or survivors of domestic violence — and said restoring domestic‑partnership enrollment would promote equity and access to benefits.
District staff said the historical context is complex: after marriage equality was enacted, domestic‑partnership language was removed from contracts and policies in many places. They recommended researching current New York State law and consulting legal counsel and benefits administrators before agreeing to contract language. District negotiators agreed to research the matter further and to consult the district benefits attorney and other legal resources before returning a recommendation.
Both sides agreed to continue the conversation; district staff asked to confer with counsel and said they would follow up after legal review.