Utah Code 17-50-325. Authority to make benefits generally available to employees, their dependents, and an adult designee — Registry authorized — Limitations
A county may, by ordinance enacted by the county legislative body, make benefits generally available to all county employees, their dependents, and an unmarried employee’s financially dependent or interdependent adult designee.
Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
Executive: when used to describe the powers, duties, or functions of a person or body elected as the county executive or a person appointed as the county manager or administrative officer, refers to:
(a)
the power and duty to carry laws and ordinances into effect and secure their due observance; and
(b)
those powers, duties, and functions that, under constitutional and statutory provisions and through long usage and accepted practice and custom at the federal and state level, have come to be regarded as belonging to the executive branch of government. See Utah Code 17-50-101
Legislative: when used to describe the powers, duties, or functions of a county commission or council, refers to:
(a)
the power and duty to enact ordinances, levy taxes, and establish budgets; and
(b)
those powers, duties, and functions that, under constitutional and statutory provisions and through long usage and accepted practice and custom at the federal and state level, have come to be regarded as belonging to the legislative branch of government. See Utah Code 17-50-101
Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
Subject to Subsection (2)(b), a county may, by ordinance enacted by the county legislative body, create a registry for adult relationships of financial dependence or interdependence.
(b)
A county may not create or maintain a registry or other means that defines, identifies, or recognizes and gives legal status or effect to a domestic partnership, civil union, or domestic cohabitation relationship other than marriage.
(3)
The county’s recognition of an adult designee, the creation and maintenance of a registry under Subsection (2)(a), and any certificate issued to or other designation of a person on the county’s registry are not and may not be treated the same as or substantially equivalent to marriage.
(4)
Neither an ordinance under Subsection (1) or (2)(a) nor a registry created under Subsection (2)(a) making an employee benefit available to an adult designee may create, modify, or affect a spousal, marital, or parental status, duty, or right.
(5)
An ordinance, executive order, rule, or regulation adopted or other action taken before, on, or after May 5, 2008 that is inconsistent with this section is void.
