AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
2009 BH "Dear Administrator" Letters
June 8, 2009
ADSA: BH #2009-010
2009 LEGISLATION RE: DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS - RIGHTS
Dear Boarding Home Administrator:
On May 18, 2009 the Governor signed Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill (E2SSB) 5688 into law. This law expands the rights and responsibilities of residents in boarding homes who are “state registered domestic partners”.
E2SSB 5688 becomes effective July 26, 2009. For specific details, you can read section 45 online at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5688-S2.PL.pdf
The main provisions of E2SSB 5688 as it pertains to boarding homes are:
- Adds a new section to Chapter 18.20 RCW.
- If not in conflict with federal law:
- The terms “spouse”, “marriage”, “marital”, “husband”, “wife”, “widow”, “widower”, “next of kin”, and “family” must be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships.
- Marital relationships and married persons and references to dissolution of marriage must apply equally to state registered domestic partnerships that have been terminated, dissolved or invalidated.
- Gender specific terms such as husband, wife used in statute, rule or other law must be interpreted to be gender neutral and applicable to individuals in state registered domestic partnerships.
The changes to the law are consistent with current boarding home Washington Administrative Code (WAC). In the future, the department may revise sections of rule to more closely reflect the change in law.
If you have questions, please contact your RCS Field Manager.
Sincerely,
Joyce Pashley Stockwell, Director
Residential Care Services
