With veto override, domestic partners bill becomes law, Nevada becomes 17th state to recognize gay relationships.
CARSON CITY – In what supporters are calling a historic moment, the Assembly has overridden the veto of Gov. Jim Gibbons on a bill giving legal rights to domestic partners.
Tod Story, a member of the board of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, said "Nevadans can stand proud."
Story said Nevada has become the 17th state to recognize the relationship of gay and lesbian couples under state law.
The vote was 28-14, the bare minimum needed to overturn the decision of the governor. It follows the 14-7 vote in the Senate Saturday and puts the bill into law.
Gary Peck, executive director of the ACLU in Nevada, said “this is a proud day in Nevada’s history. With its override, our Legislature has put our state on the right side of a growing movement to honor this country’s promise that every one of us is entitled to equal treatment under the law.”
Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, who gave the only speech on the floor, called this a “historic vote for equality and justice.”
“This is the most important civil rights legislation we’ve had in all my years here and I am so happy and honored to be a part of it.”
Senate Bill 283 provides domestic partners the same rights in such things as community property responsibility for debt to third parties and the right to seek financial support if they split up.
The partners, whether of the same or opposite sex, would register with the Secretary of State’s Office for legal recognition. And if they split, they would file dissolution of the registration.
The bill says domestic partners have the same rights, protections and benefits that are ranged or imposed upon spouses.