TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)--One lawmaker gets another chance to ask for support on a bill that would give couples in a domestic partnership some rights as people who are married.
Senator Eleanor Sobel said she took her bill back to the drawing board to make the bill much clearer. Lawmakers who opposed the bill during the first week of session claimed the measure was too broad. Senate bill 196 and house bill 259 creates a domestic partnership registry.
The measure would allow couple to visit their partners in health care, correctional, mental health facilities, and more. Senator Sobel said she's been told by many Floridians who are involved in domestic partnerships, they simply don't want to be married, but want the same rights as married couples. The partnerships refer to all couples including gay, lesbian, transgendered, and heterosexual.
Senator Sobel displayed a map during a press conference Monday afternoon that more than 40-percent of Florida counties are already taking steps to create the registries. Sobel said she wants this to happen across the entire state.
Under the bill couples could make death arrangements for their partners, they will be notified in case of an emergency, and also purchase real estate.
The bill is scheduled to be taken up by the Children, Families, and Elder Affairs committee Tuesday.
