BILL REQ. #:  H-0978.1 



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HOUSE BILL 1649
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State of Washington62nd Legislature2011 Regular Session

By Representatives Jinkins, Pedersen, Kenney, Pettigrew, Ladenburg, Lytton, Stanford, Billig, Ryu, Liias, Seaquist, Darneille, Dickerson, Dunshee, Fitzgibbon, Upthegrove, Reykdal, Finn, Moscoso, Takko, Rolfes, Clibborn, Jacks, Morris, Cody, Roberts, Orwall, Green, Van De Wege, Ormsby, Hudgins, Sells, Kelley, Blake, Appleton, Kagi, Santos, Hurst, Kirby, Eddy, Probst, Springer, Miloscia, Maxwell, Sullivan, Goodman, Frockt, Carlyle, Haigh, Moeller, Hunter, Tharinger, Hunt, McCoy, and Hasegawa

Read first time 01/28/11.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.



     AN ACT Relating to giving legal effect to domestic partnerships; and amending RCW 26.60.090 and 1.12.080.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 26.60.090 and 2009 c 521 s 72 are each amended to read as follows:
     A legal union of two persons of the same sex((, other than a marriage,)) that was validly formed in another jurisdiction, and that is substantially equivalent to a domestic partnership under this chapter, shall be recognized as a valid domestic partnership in this state and shall be treated the same as a domestic partnership registered in this state regardless of whether it bears the name domestic partnership.

Sec. 2   RCW 1.12.080 and 2009 c 521 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     For the purposes of this code and any legislation hereafter enacted by the legislature or by the people, with the exception of chapter 26.04 RCW, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to marital relationships and married persons, and references to dissolution of marriage shall apply equally to state registered domestic partnerships that have been terminated, dissolved, or invalidated, unless the legislation expressly states otherwise and to the extent that such interpretation does not conflict with federal law. Where necessary to implement chapter 521, Laws of 2009, gender-specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law shall be construed to be gender neutral, and applicable to individuals in state registered domestic partnerships.

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