Senator David Parks
August 31, 2009
 Last week, Nevada took a huge step toward providing full rights to all of its citizens. From August 24 to September 24, Nevada couples, gay or straight, who are wishing to register as domestic partners, can pre-file their declaration with the Secretary of State to receive their state certificate on October 1, 2009, the day the new law takes effect. As the primary sponsor of the Domestic Partnership legislation, Senate Bill 283, this is a very proud moment for both myself and the state of Nevada.
The journey to this point has not been easy. There were many times during this past legislative session when Senator Coffin, the co-sponsor of the SB 283, and I doubted whether the legislation would be passed. Our biggest obstacle was presented to us when Governor Gibbons vetoed the bill. But thanks to a bipartisan effort in the legislature, we prevailed and got enough votes to override his veto. It was a remarkable moment in Nevada's history, and it is a moment I will never forget.
Under Senate Bill 283, domestic partnerships are available for people who "have chosen to share one another's lives in an intimate and committed relationship of mutual caring." Domestic partnerships are not considered marriages for the purposes of Section 21 of Article 1 of the Nevada Constitution. To be eligible for a domestic partnership, both parties must be 18 years old, must not be related, must share a common residence and must not be married or involved in another domestic partnership. To learn more about how you can register for a domestic partnership, please visit the Secretary of State's website.
Senate Bill 283 passed due to the efforts of everyone who worked tirelessly to ensure that all Nevadans are provided with equal rights. This includes my fellow legislators, numerous organizations and the citizens of Nevada who shared their stories and testified for the passage of this bill. This just proves that no matter how great the challenge, if we work together, we can create a better Nevada.
To read the full text of Senate Bill 283, click here
To learn more about how you can register for a domestic partnership, click here
All my best,
David Parks
Clark County Senate District 7
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