Orlando – In a unanimous, consent agenda vote, the Orange County Commissioners on Oct. 20 voted to repeal the domestic partner benefits program for Orange County employees.
The program was instituted in 2011, with benefits starting in January of 2012. It will be officially cancelled as of Jan. 1, 2016. Eleven employees are currently enrolled in the program, and they’ll have a grace period until the end of 2016 to continue their coverage.
“The intent of the program was to ensure Orange County employees parity for same sex couples who did not have the option to marry in the State of Florida,” reads the agenda item repealing the benefits. “Domestic partners had to satisfy eligibility requirements established by the County… This program was not available to opposite sex couples because they have always had the option to marry in the State of Florida.”
The agenda lists a number of developments over the past three years that have “nullified the need” for the program, including same-sex marriage becoming legal in Florida in January and nationwide in June of 2015.
