(a)
Statement of Policy. Although domestic partners live in an intimate and committed family relationship, they are often denied public and private sector benefits because no mechanism has been established for registering their relationship. Consequently, domestic partners are often subject to marital status discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and hospital and jail visitation privileges. The purpose of this Chapter is to create a mechanism for recognizing the intimate, committed relationships of domestic partners and thereby provide a means of eliminating the discrimination that domestic partners face; and to recognize domestic partners' equality with spouses.
(b)
Equality with Spouses. Domestic partners shall have the same rights, protections, and benefits as are granted to spouses.
(Added by Ord. No. 1821CCS § 2, adopted 10/17/95; amended by Ord. No. 2438CCS § 2, adopted 8/27/13)
The following words or phrases as used in this Chapter shall have the following meanings:
A document executed by two persons under penalty of perjury in which they declare that they are a domestic partnership as defined in this Chapter. This document shall be provided by the City.
The cost of basic necessities including food and shelter. The individuals need not contribute equally or jointly to the cost of these expenses as long as they agree that both are responsible for the costs.
A person who shares a domestic partnership with another person.
A relationship between two persons in which the following is true:
The persons live together;
The persons share basic living expenses and agree to be jointly responsible for these expenses;
The persons are not related by blood closer than would bar marriage in the State of California;
Neither person is married;
The persons are eighteen years of age or older;
The persons are each other's sole domestic partner and intend to remain so indefinitely;
The persons have an intimate, committed relationship of mutual caring;
The persons have completed and executed an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership which is currently on file with the Clerk's office and this Affidavit has not been revoked; and
Neither person has had a different domestic partner in the six months prior to executing the Affidavit of Domestic Partnership, unless the termination of the previous domestic partnership was due to the death of a domestic partner.
Each domestic partner agrees to provide for the other's basic living expenses while the domestic partnership is in effect. The partners need not contribute equally or jointly to basic living expenses. A landlord who is owed basic living expenses can enforce the partners' agreement.
Two people share the same principal place of residence and intend to do so indefinitely. It is not necessary that the legal right to possess this residence be in both of their names. One or both of the people may have additional living quarters.
(Added by Ord. No. 1821CCS § 2, adopted 10/17/95)
(a)
Affidavit of Domestic Partnership. An Affidavit of Domestic Partnership must be filed with the Clerk's office to establish the domestic partnership.
(b)
Amendment to Affidavit. A domestic partner may amend an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership filed with the City Clerk at any time to show a change of his or her mailing address or to show a change in the principal place of residence of the domestic partnership.
(c)
Revocation of Domestic Partnership. When a domestic partnership has ended, other than by death of one of the domestic partners, one or both of the partners shall file a Notice of Revocation of Domestic Partnership with the City Clerk's office on a form prepared by the City.
(d)
Maintenance of City Clerk's Records. The City Clerk shall keep a record of all affidavits, amendments and revocations. The records shall be maintained so that amendments and revocations are filed with the affidavit to which they apply.
(e)
Filing Fees.
(1)
The City Clerk shall charge a separate fee for filing an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership, a Notice of Revocation of Domestic Partnership, and an amendment to an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership. The amount of these fees shall be determined by resolution of the City Council.
(2)
Payment of a filing fee entitles the person filing an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership, a Notice of Revocation of Domestic Partnership, or an amendment to have two copies of the filed document certified by the City Clerk. Certification of additional copies shall cost an additional amount per copy to be determined by resolution of the City Council.
(Added by Ord. No. 1821CCS § 2, adopted 10/17/95)
