4420.06 - CERTIFIED DOMESTIC PARTNERS

School Board of Alachua County

Bylaws & Policies

4420.06 - CERTIFIED DOMESTIC PARTNERS

Beginning with the 2009 year and subject to agreement with the Board’s insurance carrier, the Board may provide health insurance benefits for the certified domestic partner of an employee and their dependents, on the same basis as it provides benefits for an employee’s spouse and other dependents.

"Certified domestic partners" means two (2) adults, at least one (1) of whom is a Board employee, who have chosen to share their lives in a committed relationship, reside together, and share a mutual obligation of support for the basic necessities of life.

Eligibility Criteria

Certified domestic partners must meet all of the following criteria:

	A.	each one is the other’s sole domestic partner and intends to remain so indefinitely;

	B.	they have a common residence at the time of certification and intend to continue the arrangement;

	C.	they are at least eighteen (18) years of age and mentally competent to consent to contract;

	D.	they share responsibility for a significant measure of each other’s common welfare and financial obligations;

	E.	neither is married to or domestic partners with anyone else;

	F.	they are not related by blood in any way which would prohibit legal marriage in the State of Florida.

Enrollment Application

If health care coverage is requested, the domestic partner who is a Board employee will file with the Board’s Plan Administrator or designated representative a completed enrollment application, along with a completed Affidavit of Certified Domestic Partner Relationship (Form 4420.06 F1), setting forth the name of the domestic partner and the names and dates of birth of the partner’s dependents, if any.

B.	The existence of the certified domestic partner relationship must be shown by documentary evidence, acceptable to the administrator, of at least two (2) of the following:

	1.	joint lease, mortgage, or deed of the common residence;

	2.	joint ownership of an automobile used for transportation;

	3.	joint ownership of regularly used checking or savings account;

	4.	designation of the certified domestic partner as a beneficiary for the employee’s life insurance;

	5.	designation of the certified domestic partner as a primary beneficiary of the Board employee’s will;

	6.	designation of the certified domestic partner as holding power of attorney for health care.

	Evidence of compliance with the above criteria may also be required whenever benefits (coverage, payments) for the domestic partner or dependent children of the domestic partner are sought.

C.	After initial certification, if the criteria upon which the domestic partner relationship is based changes (e.g., new joint ownership of residence or no longer joint ownership of automobile), the Board employee is responsible for submitting documentation of such change in circumstances to the administrator within thirty (30) days after the change occurs or coverage/benefits may be denied.

D.	An employee is responsible for reimbursement of any expenses incurred by the Board as a result of any false or misleading statement contained in Affidavit of Certified Domestic Partner Relationship (Form 4420.06 F1).

The Affidavit of Certified Domestic Partner Relationship (Form 4420.06 F1) shall contain a notice to the employee that it may be advisable to consult an attorney regarding the possibility that the filing of the affidavit may have certain legal consequences, including the possibility that it may, in the event of termination of the certified domestic partner relationship, be regarded as a factor leading a court to treat the relationship as the equivalent of marriage for the purpose of establishing and dividing community property, or for ordering payment of support.

Termination of Domestic Partner Relationship

A Board employee who has a certified domestic partner shall file a Notice of Termination of Certified Domestic Partner Relationship (Form 4420.06 F2) with the Board’s Plan Administrator or the designated representative within thirty (30) days of the earlier of (a) the death of the certified domestic partner; or (b) the date on which the partnership no longer meets the eligibility criteria under this policy.

	A.	Termination by Death of Partner

		If the relationship dissolves as a result of the death of either domestic partner, entitlement to coverage/benefits as a domestic partner or the dependent child of a domestic partner shall terminate as of the date of death.

	B.	Termination by Failure to Meet Eligibility Criteria

		If a domestic partnership dissolves by a method other than death of either partner, the domestic partnership shall be deemed to have terminated as of the date the partnership no longer meets eligibility criteria under this policy, and entitlement to coverage/benefits as a domestic partner or the dependent child of a domestic partner shall terminate as of that date. In the case of the dissolution of the domestic partnership by other than death, an employee who fails to timely file Notice of Termination of Certified Domestic Partner Relationship (Form 4420.06 F2), as described above, may be subject to discipline and a reimbursement obligation.

Adopted 1/20/09