[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Harrisburg 12-22-2008 by Ord. No.
13-2008. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The City is committed to promoting justice, equality and inclusiveness
in the provision of health care and other benefits to its citizens,
City employees, and employees of private businesses located in the
City. The City finds that it is made up of a diversity of households
and that in those households relationships exist in many different
forms. Those forms include committed, unmarried couples in either
same or opposite sex relationships; parent and child relationships;
other familial relationships; and committed friendships. The City
wishes to promote the public health, safety, welfare, and prosperity
of its citizens and generally improve the overall quality of life
by allowing for the efficient and streamlined disposition of health
care benefits or other benefits that the City or businesses located
in the City might offer to their employees and dependents, including
an employee's designee listed on the Life Partnership Registry.
The City finds that a City-maintained list is the best way for the
City and for businesses located in the City to reliably ascertain
whether an employee's designee listed on the Life Partnership
Registry and other dependents are eligible for such benefits. Therefore,
it is the policy of the City to allow any two adults in a committed
relationship who meet the Life Partnership Registry criteria to register
with the City and to obtain a certificate attesting to their status.
As used in this Part 2, unless otherwise expressly stated or
clearly indicated by the context, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The City of Harrisburg, a municipal corporation organized
pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and operating
pursuant to the Optional Third Class City Charter Law, 53 P.S. § 41101
et seq.
Two individuals making or who have made application with
the City to become life partners.
The registration of a life partner relationship on the Life Partnership Registry, pursuant to the requirements of § 4-201.3.
Every place, institution, building or agency, whether organized
for profit or not, which provides medical services, nursing services,
health screening services, other health-related services, and supervisory
care services.
Those persons registered on the Life Partnership Registry under § 4-201.3.
Those persons involved in a relationship as life partners.
The records repository maintained by the City Clerk's office, wherein persons who meet the criteria of § 4-201.3 may register their relationship.
That declarants contribute to each other's maintenance
and well-being and financial support.
The process by which a life partnership ends for purposes of registration, pursuant to the provisions of § 4-203.2.
The permanent home where both declarants reside and perform
those tasks normally associated with one's permanent home.
To be eligible to register a relationship of life partnership
with the City of Harrisburg, the two declarants must meet all of the
following criteria:
A.
Freely declare that they are solely and mutually committed to each
other;
B.
Be persons 18 years of age or older and be unmarried according to
the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with neither being registered
in another life partner relationship;
C.
Are not related to the other declarant by blood in any way which
would prohibit marriage in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;
D.
Be competent to contract;
E.
Be directly dependent upon, or interdependent with, each other, sharing
common financial obligations. Acceptable documentation shall include
at least three of the following:
(1)
Common ownership of property or lease;
(2)
Common ownership of a vehicle;
(3)
Driving licenses listing common address;
(4)
Joint bank, investment or credit account;
(5)
Designation as a beneficiary of life insurance, retirement benefits
or under the will of each other; or
(6)
Assignment of each other as agent under a durable power of attorney
or health care power of attorney;
F.
Currently reside in the City, or one of the declarants works in the
City;
G.
Agree under penalty of law to notify the City of any change in the
status of the life partnership; and
H.
Execute a declaration of life partnership attesting to the foregoing
requirements and attesting that the parties are in a relationship
of mutual commitment, support, and caring; are responsible for each
other's physical and financial welfare; and have the present
intention to remain in that relationship.
