What Types Of Laws Might Your State Adopt? California Offers Some Insights.

Where California goes many other states often follow. That's why it's worth paying attention to the state's laws on expanding benefits to unmarried, domestic partners, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2002 with AB 25.

Besides expanded employment rights, this legislation affects a domestic partner's right to make medical decisions, sue for wrongful death, maintain adoption rights, and rights of inheritance and conservatorship.

Extending benefits to domestic partners of unmarried employees, including gay and lesbian employees, is a concept first introduced in