Domestic Partners

A bill to greatly expand the rights of same-sex couples cleared its first hurdle in the Assembly on Tuesday despite having been labeled by opponents as an attack on the institution of marriage. AB 205, by Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg (D-Los Angeles), would grant gay and lesbian couples -- as well as heterosexual domestic partners -- many of the same rights and responsibilities that California gives to married couples.

California teachers lost and domestic partners gained in state tax changes made for the 2002 tax year. New rules also will affect the state returns of taxpayers in a handful of other groups, including country club members, wealthy taxpayers who donate land to the state, Holocaust victims and unmarried parents. "It wasn't a big year for changes, but the people who fall into the niches where there were changes are going to see a big impact," said enrolled agent Jennifer MacMillan of Santa Barbara.

A Santa Barbara County judge known for her toughness has been charged with six criminal violations in connection with an alleged argument with her domestic partner and subsequent arrest on suspicion of drunk driving last month. The charges filed against Superior Court Judge Diana R. Hall include felony counts of battery on a cohabitant and using a gun to prevent a crime victim from making a report.

A Santa Barbara County judge has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and could face additional charges after allegedly brandishing a pistol during an argument with her roommate at their house near Solvang, officials said Friday. Superior Court Judge Diana R. Hall, assigned to the county's Lompoc courthouse, was arrested Dec. 21 after sheriff's deputies received an emergency call from her domestic partner, Deidra Dykeman, officials said. Sgt.

A 39-year-old North Hollywood man died early Monday, allegedly after being struck on the head during an altercation with his domestic partner, police said. The victim, David Brown, used his cell phone to call paramedics to the couple's apartment in the 11000 block of Killion Street shortly before 2 a.m., police said. Brown was taken to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, where he died of his injuries, police said.

The San Jose City Council voted unanimously to write an ordinance that would exempt gay and lesbian domestic partners from having to pay a property transfer tax. The exemption, which was passed Tuesday, also would apply to unmarried heterosexual couples older than 62. Implementing the proposed law could take several months. San Francisco city and county, Oakland and Berkeley already have transfer tax exemptions for domestic partners.

Bay Area officials on Wednesday blasted the Salvation Army for a decision to limit its health benefits to married couples and their dependent children, saying the relief group needed to rethink its policies if it wanted to do business here. Earlier this month, the Salvation Army extended health benefits to include domestic partners in 13 Western states--a move praised by gay rights groups but derided by conservative organizations.

Less than two weeks after western officials of the Salvation Army decided to extend health benefits to domestic partners in 13 states, the group's national leaders have rescinded the order. Until this month, the evangelical Christian group offered benefits only to married couples and their dependent children. But leaders of the group's Western Territory said Nov. 1 that they also would begin offering benefits to all adult members of an employee's household, including straight and gay partners.

Gov. Gray Davis' decision to sign a bill substantially expanding rights for gays and lesbians in domestic partnerships will place California at the forefront of efforts to give same-sex couples the benefits and protections of traditional marriage, advocates say. At a signing ceremony in the Capitol on Sunday, Davis said the bill--passed despite significant conservative opposition in the Legislature--is about fairness and equal treatment under the law.

A measure expanding the rights of gays and lesbians in domestic partnerships cleared the Senate on Monday, prompting opponents to call on Gov. Gray Davis to "protect marriage" by vetoing the legislation. In addition, the Senate passed legislation to curtail what some legislators called predatory lending practices. The Assembly debated a bill to place an "excess profits tax" on electricity companies and voted to restore $98 million to community colleges that had been cut from the state budget.