Indianapolis ordinance update could extend benefits to government workers' domestic partners

INDIANAPOLIS—City-County councilors in Indianapolis have proposed updating local ordinances to extend benefits to the domestic partners of government employees.

The proposal, introduced on Monday, would provide health care, pension benefits and family/medical leave benefits to the domestic partners of Indianapolis and Marion County workers, even though the state of Indiana does not recognize domestic partnerships as a legal union. The law update also would extend benefits to a domestic partner’s dependents.

Any benefits offered to domestic partners of government employees should be identical to those extended to couples joined in conventional marriages, the proposal states.

Because domestic partnerships aren’t recognized by the state or the federal government as legal relationships, employees would be taxed for any benefits provided to domestic partners and/or their dependents.

If adopted, the law could take effect as early as July 1. The proposal was co-sponsored by three Democrats and two Republicans on the council.