Panel postpones vote on state health insurance coverage for domestic partners

A panel of lawmakers said today they want more questions answered before voting on a proposal to provide state health insurance to the domestic partners of employees, both same sex and opposite sex.

A regulation establishing such a policy was before the Legislative Commission for action, forwarded by the state Public Employees Benefits Program board. Rather than reject or adopt the proposal, lawmakers wanted to hear about alternatives to the plan submitted by the health plan board.

The regulation, which would cost an estimated $2.7 million a year from the state to implement in its current form, will be brought back to a future meeting.