Last updated: June 29, 2009
Domestic-partner health insurance included in state budget
June 29, 2009
Gov. Jim Doyle today (June 29) signed into law a state budget authorizing the offering of health insurance benefits to same- and opposite-sex domestic partnerships. In addition, the budget authorizes the creation of a same-sex domestic partner registry.
The news is the culmination of years of hard work on the UW-Madison campus, according to Steve Stern, vice provost for faculty and staff programs. The ability to offer such benefits is of major importance for the university’s efforts to recruit and retain talented faculty and staff, as well as an issue of equity.
Students, faculty and staff from all quarters of the university community worked together to highlight the importance of these benefits.
“We are delighted that health insurance for domestic partners of our employees has been signed into law, in time to take effect in January 2010,” Stern says. “We’re grateful to everyone who worked hard to make our workplace fair and competitive.”
Stern and other members of the university task force on domestic partner health insurance will evaluate specific details of Doyle’s plans and will begin preparing for implementation.
Additional information, including detailed FAQs about signing up for benefits, will be posted as they become available.
Statements and news from UW–Madison
- Domestic-partner health insurance approved in Joint Committee on Finance May 22, 2009
- Letter to legislators on domestic partner health insurance benefits from Chancellor Biddy Martin (PDF) May 4, 2009
- Domestic partner health insurance town meeting planned April 17, 2009
- UW: Cautious optimism on domestic partner health insurance Feb. 23, 2009
- Efforts to secure domestic partner benefits continue Jan. 30, 2008
- Efforts for domestic partner benefits continue at budget’s final stages Oct. 12, 2007
- Domestic partner benefits issue to be resolved in conference committee July 12, 2007
- Chancellor Wiley letter to Sen. Mark Miller and Rep. Mark Pocan on domestic partner benefits July 12, 2007
- Chancellor John D. Wiley’s statement on proposed Assembly budget July 10, 2007
- Senate passes budget with domestic partner benefits June 27, 2007
- UW–Madison memo to State Senators on Domestic Partner Benefits June 14, 2007
- JFC declines to add domestic partner benefits to budget June 6, 2007
- Chancellor’s statement on JFC votes June 5, 2007
- JFC action expected June 5 June 1, 2007
- University offers domestic partner benefit update May 9, 2007
- Governors budget proposal to include domestic partner benefits Feb. 16, 2007
- Marriage amendment listening session scheduled Nov. 13, 2006
- Governor’s budget
adds funding to UW, financial aid Feb. 25, 2005
- New tuition policy
covers domestic partners, dependents Oct. 19,
2004
- Domestic partnership coverage Aug. 24, 2004
- Report calls for progress
on domestic-partner benefits May 5,
2004
- Faculty Senate supports
domestic partner benefits Oct. 22, 2002
- Limited partner benefits
finalized May 15, 2002
Legislative and Legal Documents
- Academic Staff Assembly Resolution of Support (PDF) April 13, 2009
- Resolution of the Faculty Senate (PDF) March 2009
- Resolution of the Committee on Women (PDF) March 11, 2009
- Letter to Governor Doyle from Adam Gamoran, Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology (PDF) Feb. 3, 2003
- UW–Madison Domestic Partner Benefits Position Paper, UW–Madison State Relations (PDF) May 14, 2007
- Finance Co-Chairs Announce Cities for Public Hearings (PDF) Committee on Joint Finance, Feb. 15, 2007
- Legislative path for domestic partner benefits for UW employees (PDF) UW–Madison State Relations, January 2007
- Wisconsin attorney general’s opinion on domestic partner benefits (PDF)
- Legislative Council memo on legal ramifications of marriage amendment proposal to unmarried persons (PDF) Feb. 24, 2006
- Legislative Council Memo on domestic partner benefits (PDF) Feb. 24, 2006
- Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo on health insurance coverage for domestic partners of state employees (PDF) May 23, 2005
- Legislative Council memo on interpretation of marriage amendment proposal (PDF) Jan. 29, 2004
- Big Ten Universities and Domestic Partner Policies
Questions?
Steve Stern
Vice Provost for
Faculty and Staff Programs
(608) 262-5246
Domestic Partner Benefits in the News
- Domestic Partners Registry May Be Test Case Wisconsin State Journal, April 12
- Same-sex marriage advocates focus on domestic partner benefits ahead of overturning ban WisPolitics.com,
April 13
- Local Woman: Keep Domestic Partner Protection in Budget WQOW-TV, Eau Claire,
March 27
- Day of Action for Domestic Partner Benefits Wisconsin Radio Network,
March 26
- Group Pushes For Domestic Partner Benefits WISC-TV, March 25
- Doyle says domestic partner proposal does not violate marriage amendment Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Feb. 23
- Doyle proposes same-sex partnerships AP,
Feb. 20
- Budget would allow domestic partnerships, Wisconsin Radio Networks Wisconsin Radio Networks,
Feb. 23
- State Budget Proposal Would Recognize Same-Sex Couples WISC-TV,
Feb. 19
- Domestic Partner Registry Proposed NBC15,
Feb. 19
- UW
System funding and benefits should be ‘no-brainers’ but aren’t Spooner
Advocate, June 13
- Huebsch
Opposes Partner Benefits For Partners of State Employees NewsTalk
1410 — La Crosse, Wisconsin, June 7
- UW
faculty continue push for domestic partner benefits Wisconsin
Radio Network,
June 6
- Budget committee votes down plan to offer domestic partner benefits Associated Press, June 5
- Benefits could reappear in state budget The
Badger Herald, Apr. 27
- Benefits plan out of budget The
Badger Herald, Apr. 23
- Editorial:
Significant benefits The
Badger Herald, Apr. 12
- Editorial:
Civil rights extend beyond whims of misguided majority The
Badger Herald, Apr. 11
- Editorial:
UW must invest in partner benefits The
Badger Herald, Apr. 10
- La
Crosse County OKs domestic partner benefits LA Crosse Tribune,
Apr. 10
- UW
System makes case for partner benefits Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, Mar. 22
- Monona
OKs partner benefits for some staff The Capital Times, Mar.
20
- A battle for benefits The Indianapolis Star, Mar. 19
- Editorial: The people’s will ought to prevail Beloit Daily News, Mar. 1
- City rejects union grievance on partner benefits AP, Feb. 28
- Doyle backs gay benefits Wisconsin State Journal, Feb. 28
- Wis. court to take up domestic partner benefits case AP, Feb. 21
- Editorial: Let state insure domestic partners Wisconsin State Journal, Feb. 16
- Employers in Wisconsin Offering Domestic Partner Health Insurance Benefits Fair Wisconsin News Release, Feb. 15
- PROFS, Inc. Domestic Partner Statement (PDF) PROFS News Release, Feb. 12
- Gov seeks partner benefits The Capital Times, Feb. 12
- Defeat
for Same-Sex Benefits Inside Higher Ed, Feb. 5
- Domestic
partnership bill considered Washington State AP, Jan.
26
- Monona
eyes health benefit for partners Capital Times, Jan.
25
- 70
of top 100 best companies to work for offer partner benefits Fortune,
Jan. 15
- UK
domestic partner health benefits backed Louisville Courier-Journal,
Jan. 13
- UK
closer to partner benefits Lexington Herald-Leader, Jan.
13
- Equal
benefits work in corporate America Wilmington News-Journal,
Jan. 5
- AG:
Same-sex couple benefits ok AP, Dec. 29, 2006
- AG:
Partner benefits safe despite ban The Capital Times,
Dec. 28, 2006
- Gay
staff, faculty talk of leaving UW AP, Nov. 16, 2006
- Corporate
America backs gay rights Fortune, Sept. 20, 2006
- Editorial:
UW still needs partner benefits Wisconsin State Journal,
Aug. 30, 2006
- Researcher quits UW, cites partner benefits Wisconsin State Journal, Aug. 24, 2006