Bill Text: NY A02807 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires insurers providing family health insurance coverage to offer coverage for the domestic partner of an insured person according to qualification standards to be adopted by the superintendent.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 21-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-01-18 - committed to insurance [A02807 Detail]
Download: New_York-2011-A02807-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 2807 2011-2012 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y January 20, 2011 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. O'DONNELL, BING, GOTTFRIED, KAVANAGH, ROSENTHAL, MILLMAN, HEASTIE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GLICK, HOYT, KELL- NER, LIFTON, McENENY, PERRY, PHEFFER, SWEENEY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Insurance AN ACT to amend the insurance law, in relation to health insurance bene- fits for domestic partners THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Paragraph 3 of subsection (a) of section 3216 of the insur- 2 ance law is amended and a new paragraph 5 is added to read as follows: 3 (3) "Family" may include husband, wife, DOMESTIC PARTNER or dependent 4 children, or any other person dependent upon the policyholder. 5 (5) "DOMESTIC PARTNER" SHALL MEAN A PERSON WHO WITH RESPECT TO ANOTHER 6 PERSON: 7 (A) IS FORMALLY A PARTY IN A DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP OR SIMILAR RELATION- 8 SHIP WITH THE OTHER PERSON, ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO THE LAWS OF THE 9 UNITED STATES OR OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN JURISDICTION, OR REGIS- 10 TERED AS THE DOMESTIC PARTNER OF THE OTHER PERSON WITH ANY REGISTRY 11 MAINTAINED BY THE EMPLOYER OF EITHER PARTY OR ANY STATE, MUNICIPALITY, 12 OR FOREIGN JURISDICTION; OR 13 (B) IS DEPENDENT OR MUTUALLY INTERDEPENDENT ON THE OTHER PERSON FOR 14 SUPPORT, AS EVIDENCED BY THE TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES INDICATING A 15 MUTUAL INTENT TO BE DOMESTIC PARTNERS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: 16 COMMON OWNERSHIP OR JOINT LEASING OF REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY; COMMON 17 HOUSEHOLDING, SHARED INCOME OR SHARED EXPENSES; CHILDREN IN COMMON; 18 SIGNS OF INTENT TO MARRY OR BECOME DOMESTIC PARTNERS; OR THE LENGTH OF 19 THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP OF THE PERSONS. 20 S 2. Paragraph 4 of subsection (c) of section 3216 of the insurance 21 law is amended by adding a new subparagraph (D) to read as follows: EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD05722-01-1 A. 2807 2 1 (D) THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL, WITHIN ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS OF THE 2 EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, PROVIDE FOR QUALIFICATION STANDARDS 3 FOR DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS BY REGULATION. SUCH REGULATIONS: 4 (I) SHALL PROHIBIT THE COVERAGE OF MORE THAN ONE DOMESTIC PARTNER AT 5 THE SAME TIME UNDER A FAMILY CONTRACT, OR COVERAGE OF A DOMESTIC PARTNER 6 OF AN INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER WHO IS ALSO MARRIED, OR COVERAGE AS 7 A DOMESTIC PARTNER OF ANYONE LESS THAN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR ANY 8 PERSON WHO IS RELATED TO THE OTHER PERSON BY BLOOD IN A MANNER THAT 9 WOULD BAR MARRIAGE TO THE OTHER PERSON IN NEW YORK STATE; 10 (II) SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE COVERAGE OF A DEPENDENT CHILD OF A DOMESTIC 11 PARTNER UNDER THE SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS WOULD APPLY TO A DEPEND- 12 ENT CHILD OF THE INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER OR SPOUSE OF SUCH INSURED 13 OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER; 14 (III) SHALL INCLUDE A PROVISION WHICH DEEMS AS QUALIFIED ANY PERSON 15 WHO SUBMITS PROOF THAT HE OR SHE IS FORMALLY A PARTY TO A DOMESTIC PART- 16 NERSHIP, OR SIMILAR RELATIONSHIP, ENTERED INTO WITH THE INSURED OR 17 CERTIFICATE HOLDER PURSUANT TO THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OR OF ANY 18 STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN JURISDICTION; 19 (IV) SHALL, AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CLAUSE (III) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, 20 PROVIDE FOR OTHER MEANS OF DEMONSTRATING A DOMESTIC PARTNER RELATIONSHIP 21 INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, AN AFFIDAVIT ATTESTING TO THE RELATION- 22 SHIP; 23 (V) SHALL PROVIDE FOR REASONABLE PROCEDURES FOR NOTIFICATION OF THE 24 CORPORATION BY THE INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER OF THE END OF THE 25 DOMESTIC PARTNER RELATIONSHIP; 26 (VI) MAY, FOR PERSONS WHO ARE NOT DEEMED AS QUALIFIED PURSUANT TO 27 CLAUSE (III) OR (IV) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, INCLUDE PROVISIONS REQUIRING 28 PRIOR COHABITATION OF THE INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER AND THE DOMESTIC 29 PARTNER, PROVIDED THAT SUCH PERIOD OF REQUIRED COHABITATION MAY NOT 30 EXCEED SIX MONTHS; AND 31 (VII) MAY, FOR PERSONS WHO ARE NOT DEEMED AS QUALIFIED PURSUANT TO 32 CLAUSE (III) OR (IV) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH, REQUIRE THE SUBMISSION OF 33 REASONABLE DOCUMENTATION OF RESIDENCE AND FINANCIAL INTERDEPENDENCE OF 34 THE KIND COMMONLY AVAILABLE TO MARRIED PERSONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMIT- 35 ED TO, INCOME TAX RETURNS, PASSPORTS, DRIVERS' LICENSES, UTILITY BILLS, 36 LEASES, DEEDS, JOINT BANKING AND CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS, RETIREMENT 37 ACCOUNTS AND INSURANCE POLICIES AND BENEFIT STATEMENTS. 38 S 3. Section 3221 of the insurance law is amended by adding two new 39 subsections (s) and (t) to read as follows: 40 (S) A GROUP POLICY PROVIDING HOSPITAL, SURGICAL OR MEDICAL EXPENSE 41 INSURANCE OTHER THAN ACCIDENT ONLY TO A FAMILY MEMBER OF THE POLICY OR 42 CERTIFICATE HOLDER MUST, IF REQUESTED BY THE POLICYHOLDER, MAKE AVAIL- 43 ABLE AND, IF REQUESTED BY THE INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER, PROVIDE 44 COVERAGE FOR THE DOMESTIC PARTNER OF THE INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER. 45 FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "DOMESTIC PARTNER" SHALL MEAN A PERSON 46 WHO WITH RESPECT TO ANOTHER PERSON: 47 (1) IS FORMALLY A PARTY IN A DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP OR SIMILAR RELATION- 48 SHIP WITH THE OTHER PERSON, ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO THE LAWS OF THE 49 UNITED STATES OR OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN JURISDICTION, OR REGIS- 50 TERED AS THE DOMESTIC PARTNER OF THE OTHER PERSON WITH ANY REGISTRY 51 MAINTAINED BY THE EMPLOYER OF EITHER PARTY OR ANY STATE, MUNICIPALITY, 52 OR FOREIGN JURISDICTION; OR 53 (2) IS DEPENDENT OR MUTUALLY INTERDEPENDENT ON THE OTHER PERSON FOR 54 SUPPORT, AS EVIDENCED BY THE TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES INDICATING A 55 MUTUAL INTENT TO BE DOMESTIC PARTNERS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: 56 COMMON OWNERSHIP OR JOINT LEASING OF REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY; COMMON A. 2807 3 1 HOUSEHOLDING, SHARED INCOME OR SHARED EXPENSES; CHILDREN IN COMMON; 2 SIGNS OF INTENT TO MARRY OR BECOME DOMESTIC PARTNERS OR THE LENGTH OF 3 THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP OF THE PERSONS. 4 (T) THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL, WITHIN ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS OF THE 5 EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBSECTION, PROVIDE FOR QUALIFICATION STANDARDS 6 FOR DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS BY REGULATION. SUCH REGULATIONS: 7 (1) SHALL PROHIBIT THE COVERAGE OF MORE THAN ONE DOMESTIC PARTNER AT 8 THE SAME TIME UNDER A FAMILY CONTRACT, OR COVERAGE OF A DOMESTIC PARTNER 9 OF AN INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER WHO IS ALSO MARRIED, OR COVERAGE AS 10 A DOMESTIC PARTNER OF ANYONE LESS THAN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR ANY 11 PERSON WHO IS RELATED TO THE OTHER PERSON BY BLOOD IN A MANNER THAT 12 WOULD BAR MARRIAGE TO THE OTHER PERSON IN NEW YORK STATE; 13 (2) SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE COVERAGE OF A DEPENDENT CHILD OF A DOMESTIC 14 PARTNER UNDER THE SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS WOULD APPLY TO A DEPEND- 15 ENT CHILD OF THE INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER OR SPOUSE OF SUCH INSURED 16 OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER; 17 (3) SHALL INCLUDE A PROVISION WHICH DEEMS AS QUALIFIED ANY PERSON WHO 18 SUBMITS PROOF THAT HE OR SHE IS FORMALLY A PARTY TO A DOMESTIC PARTNER- 19 SHIP, OR SIMILAR RELATIONSHIP, ENTERED INTO WITH THE INSURED OR CERTIF- 20 ICATE HOLDER PURSUANT TO THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, OR OF ANY STATE, 21 LOCAL OR FOREIGN JURISDICTION; 22 (4) SHALL, AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PARAGRAPH THREE OF THIS SUBSECTION, 23 PROVIDE FOR OTHER MEANS OF DEMONSTRATING A DOMESTIC PARTNER RELATIONSHIP 24 INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, AN AFFIDAVIT ATTESTING TO THE RELATION- 25 SHIP; 26 (5) SHALL PROVIDE FOR REASONABLE PROCEDURES FOR NOTIFICATION OF THE 27 INSURER BY THE INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER OF THE END OF THE DOMESTIC 28 PARTNER RELATIONSHIP; 29 (6) MAY, FOR PERSONS NOT DEEMED AS QUALIFIED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH 30 THREE OR FOUR OF THIS SUBSECTION, INCLUDE PROVISIONS REQUIRING PRIOR 31 COHABITATION OF THE INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER AND THE DOMESTIC PART- 32 NER, PROVIDED THAT SUCH PERIOD OF REQUIRED COHABITATION MAY NOT EXCEED 33 SIX MONTHS; AND 34 (7) MAY, FOR PERSONS NOT DEEMED AS QUALIFIED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH 35 THREE OR FOUR OF THIS SUBSECTION, REQUIRE THE SUBMISSION OF REASONABLE 36 DOCUMENTATION OF RESIDENCE AND FINANCIAL INTERDEPENDENCE OF THE KIND 37 COMMONLY AVAILABLE TO MARRIED PERSONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, 38 INCOME TAX RETURNS, PASSPORTS, DRIVERS' LICENSES, UTILITY BILLS, LEASES, 39 DEEDS, JOINT BANKING AND CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS, RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS AND 40 INSURANCE POLICIES AND BENEFIT STATEMENTS. 41 S 4. Subparagraph (A) of paragraph 1 of subsection (d) of section 4304 42 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 240 of the laws of 2009, is 43 amended and two new paragraphs 4 and 5 are added to read as follows: 44 (A) No contract issued pursuant to this section shall entitle more 45 than one person to benefits except that a contract issued and marked as 46 a "family contract" may provide that benefits will be furnished to a 47 husband and wife, or husband, wife OR DOMESTIC PARTNER and their depend- 48 ent child or children, or any child or children not over nineteen years 49 of age, provided that an unmarried student at an accredited institution 50 of learning may be considered a dependent until he OR SHE becomes twen- 51 ty-three years of age, provided that the coverage of any such "family 52 contract" may include, at the option of the insurer, any unmarried child 53 until attaining age twenty-five, and provided also that the coverage of 54 any such "family contract" shall include any other unmarried child, 55 regardless of age, who is incapable of self-sustaining employment by 56 reason of mental illness, developmental disability, mental retardation, A. 2807 4 1 as defined in the mental hygiene law, or physical handicap and who 2 became so incapable prior to attainment of the age at which dependent 3 coverage would otherwise terminate, so that such child may be considered 4 a dependent. 5 (4) A HOSPITAL SERVICE CORPORATION OR HEALTH SERVICE CORPORATION WHICH 6 PROVIDES A "FAMILY CONTRACT" TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR A GROUP MUST, IF 7 REQUESTED BY THE POLICYHOLDER, MAKE AVAILABLE AND, IF REQUESTED BY THE 8 INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER, PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR THE DOMESTIC PARTNER 9 OF THE INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, 10 "DOMESTIC PARTNER" SHALL MEAN A PERSON WHO WITH RESPECT TO ANOTHER 11 PERSON: 12 (A) IS FORMALLY A PARTY IN A DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP OR SIMILAR RELATION- 13 SHIP WITH THE OTHER PERSON, ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO THE LAWS OF THE 14 UNITED STATES OR OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN JURISDICTION, OR REGIS- 15 TERED AS THE DOMESTIC PARTNER OF THE OTHER PERSON WITH ANY REGISTRY 16 MAINTAINED BY THE EMPLOYER OF EITHER PARTY OR ANY STATE, MUNICIPALITY, 17 OR FOREIGN JURISDICTION; OR 18 (B) IS DEPENDENT OR MUTUALLY INTERDEPENDENT ON THE OTHER PERSON FOR 19 SUPPORT, AS EVIDENCED BY THE TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES INDICATING A 20 MUTUAL INTENT TO BE DOMESTIC PARTNERS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: 21 COMMON OWNERSHIP OR JOINT LEASING OF REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY; COMMON 22 HOUSEHOLDING, SHARED INCOME OR SHARED EXPENSES; CHILDREN IN COMMON; 23 SIGNS OF INTENT TO MARRY OR BECOME DOMESTIC PARTNERS; OR THE LENGTH OF 24 THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP OF THE PERSONS. 25 (5) THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL, WITHIN ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS OF THE 26 EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, PROVIDE FOR QUALIFICATION STANDARDS 27 FOR DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS BY REGULATION. SUCH REGULATION: 28 (A) SHALL PROHIBIT THE COVERAGE OF MORE THAN ONE DOMESTIC PARTNER AT 29 THE SAME TIME UNDER A FAMILY CONTRACT, OR COVERAGE OF A DOMESTIC PARTNER 30 OF AN INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER WHO IS ALSO MARRIED, OR COVERAGE AS 31 A DOMESTIC PARTNER OF ANYONE LESS THAN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR ANY 32 PERSON WHO IS RELATED TO THE OTHER PERSON BY BLOOD IN A MANNER THAT 33 WOULD BAR MARRIAGE TO THE OTHER PERSON IN NEW YORK STATE; 34 (B) SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE COVERAGE OF A DEPENDENT CHILD OF A DOMESTIC 35 PARTNER UNDER THE SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS WOULD APPLY TO A DEPEND- 36 ENT CHILD OF THE INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER OR SPOUSE OF SUCH INSURED 37 OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER; 38 (C) SHALL INCLUDE A PROVISION WHICH DEEMS AS QUALIFIED ANY PERSON WHO 39 SUBMITS PROOF THAT HE OR SHE IS FORMALLY A PARTY TO A DOMESTIC PARTNER- 40 SHIP, OR SIMILAR RELATIONSHIP, ENTERED INTO WITH THE INSURED OR CERTIF- 41 ICATE HOLDER PURSUANT TO THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OR OF ANY STATE, 42 LOCAL OR FOREIGN JURISDICTION; 43 (D) SHALL, AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SUBPARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, 44 PROVIDE FOR OTHER MEANS OF DEMONSTRATING A DOMESTIC PARTNER RELATIONSHIP 45 INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, AN AFFIDAVIT ATTESTING TO THE RELATION- 46 SHIP; 47 (E) SHALL PROVIDE FOR REASONABLE PROCEDURES FOR NOTIFICATION OF THE 48 CORPORATION BY THE INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER OF THE END OF THE 49 DOMESTIC PARTNER RELATIONSHIP; 50 (F) MAY, FOR PERSONS NOT DEEMED AS QUALIFIED PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH 51 (C) OR (D) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, INCLUDE PROVISIONS REQUIRING PRIOR COHABI- 52 TATION OF THE INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER AND THE DOMESTIC PARTNER, 53 PROVIDED THAT SUCH PERIOD OF REQUIRED COHABITATION MAY NOT EXCEED SIX 54 MONTHS; AND 55 (G) MAY, FOR PERSONS NOT DEEMED AS QUALIFIED PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH 56 (C) OR (D) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, REQUIRE THE SUBMISSION OF REASONABLE A. 2807 5 1 DOCUMENTATION OF RESIDENCE AND FINANCIAL INTERDEPENDENCE OF THE KIND 2 COMMONLY AVAILABLE TO MARRIED PERSONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, 3 INCOME TAX RETURNS, PASSPORTS, DRIVERS' LICENSES, UTILITY BILLS, LEASES, 4 DEEDS, JOINT BANKING AND CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS, RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS AND 5 INSURANCE POLICIES AND BENEFIT STATEMENTS. 6 S 5. Subparagraphs (A) and (C) of paragraph 1 of subsection (c) of 7 section 4305 of the insurance law, as amended by chapter 240 of the laws 8 of 2009, are amended and two new paragraphs 3 and 4 are added to read as 9 follows: 10 (A) Any such contract may provide that benefits will be furnished to a 11 member of a covered group, for [himself, his spouse, his] SUCH MEMBER 12 AND THE SPOUSE, DOMESTIC PARTNER, child or children OF SUCH MEMBER, or 13 other persons chiefly dependent upon him OR HER for support and mainte- 14 nance; provided that a contract under which coverage of a dependent of a 15 member terminates at a specified age shall, with respect to an unmarried 16 child who is incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of mental 17 illness, developmental disability, mental retardation, as defined in the 18 mental hygiene law, or physical handicap and who became so incapable 19 prior to attainment of the age at which dependent coverage would other- 20 wise terminate and who is chiefly dependent upon such member for support 21 and maintenance, not so terminate while the contract remains in force 22 and the dependent remains in such condition, if the member has within 23 thirty-one days of such dependent's attainment of the termination age 24 submitted proof of such dependent's incapacity as described herein. 25 (C) Notwithstanding any rule, regulation or law to the contrary, any 26 contract under which a member elects coverage for [himself, his spouse, 27 his] SUCH MEMBER AND THE SPOUSE, DOMESTIC PARTNER, children or other 28 persons chiefly dependent upon him OR HER for support and maintenance 29 shall provide that coverage of newborn infants, including newly born 30 infants adopted by the insured or subscriber if such insured or 31 subscriber takes physical custody of the infant upon such infant's 32 release from the hospital and files a petition pursuant to section one 33 hundred fifteen-c of the domestic relations law within thirty days of 34 birth; and provided further that no notice of revocation to the adoption 35 has been filed pursuant to section one hundred fifteen-b of the domestic 36 relations law and consent to the adoption has not been revoked, shall be 37 effective from the moment of birth for injury or sickness including the 38 necessary care and treatment of medically diagnosed congenital defects 39 and birth abnormalities including premature birth, except that in cases 40 of adoption, coverage of the initial hospital stay shall not be required 41 where a birth parent has insurance coverage available for the infant's 42 care. This provision regarding coverage of newborn infants shall not 43 apply to two person coverage. In the case of individual or two person 44 coverages the corporation must also permit the person to whom the 45 certificate is issued to elect such coverage of newborn infants from the 46 moment of birth. If notification and/or payment of an additional premium 47 or contribution is required to make coverage effective for a newborn 48 infant, the coverage may provide that such notice and/or payment be made 49 within no less than thirty days of the day of birth to make coverage 50 effective from the moment of birth. This election shall not be required 51 in the case of student insurance or where the group's plan does not 52 provide coverage for dependent children. 53 (3) A HOSPITAL SERVICE CORPORATION OR HEALTH SERVICE CORPORATION WHICH 54 PROVIDES A "FAMILY CONTRACT" TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR A GROUP MUST, IF 55 REQUESTED BY THE POLICYHOLDER, MAKE AVAILABLE AND, IF REQUESTED BY THE 56 INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER, PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR THE DOMESTIC PARTNER A. 2807 6 1 OF THE INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, 2 "DOMESTIC PARTNER" SHALL MEAN A PERSON WHO WITH RESPECT TO ANOTHER 3 PERSON: 4 (A) IS FORMALLY A PARTY IN A DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP OR SIMILAR RELATION- 5 SHIP WITH THE OTHER PERSON, ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO THE LAWS OF THE 6 UNITED STATES OR OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN JURISDICTION, OR REGIS- 7 TERED AS THE DOMESTIC PARTNER OF THE OTHER PERSON WITH ANY REGISTRY 8 MAINTAINED BY THE EMPLOYER OF EITHER PARTY OR ANY STATE, MUNICIPALITY, 9 OR FOREIGN JURISDICTION; OR 10 (B) IS DEPENDENT OR MUTUALLY INTERDEPENDENT ON THE OTHER PERSON FOR 11 SUPPORT, AS EVIDENCED BY THE TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES INDICATING A 12 MUTUAL INTENT TO BE DOMESTIC PARTNERS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: 13 COMMON OWNERSHIP OR JOINT LEASING OF REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY; COMMON 14 HOUSEHOLDING, SHARED INCOME OR SHARED EXPENSES; CHILDREN IN COMMON; 15 SIGNS OF INTENT TO MARRY OR BECOME DOMESTIC PARTNERS; OR THE LENGTH OF 16 THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP OF THE PERSONS. 17 (4) THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL, WITHIN ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS OF THE 18 EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, PROVIDE FOR QUALIFICATION STANDARDS 19 FOR DOMESTIC PARTNER BENEFITS BY REGULATION. SUCH REGULATIONS: 20 (A) SHALL PROHIBIT THE COVERAGE OF MORE THAN ONE DOMESTIC PARTNER AT 21 THE SAME TIME UNDER A FAMILY CONTRACT, OR COVERAGE OF A DOMESTIC PARTNER 22 OF AN INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER WHO IS ALSO MARRIED, OR COVERAGE AS 23 A DOMESTIC PARTNER OF ANYONE LESS THAN EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR ANY 24 PERSON WHO IS RELATED TO THE OTHER PERSON BY BLOOD IN A MANNER THAT 25 WOULD BAR MARRIAGE TO THE OTHER PERSON IN NEW YORK STATE; 26 (B) SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE COVERAGE OF A DEPENDENT CHILD OF A DOMESTIC 27 PARTNER UNDER THE SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS WOULD APPLY TO A DEPEND- 28 ENT CHILD OF THE INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER OR SPOUSE OF SUCH INSURED 29 OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER; 30 (C) SHALL INCLUDE A PROVISION WHICH DEEMS AS QUALIFIED ANY PERSON WHO 31 SUBMITS PROOF THAT HE OR SHE IS FORMALLY A PARTY TO A DOMESTIC PARTNER- 32 SHIP, OR SIMILAR RELATIONSHIP, ENTERED INTO WITH THE INSURED OR CERTIF- 33 ICATE HOLDER PURSUANT TO THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, OR OF ANY STATE, 34 LOCAL OR FOREIGN JURISDICTION; 35 (D) SHALL, AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SUBPARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, 36 PROVIDE FOR OTHER MEANS OF DEMONSTRATING A DOMESTIC PARTNER RELATIONSHIP 37 INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, AN AFFIDAVIT ATTESTING TO THE RELATION- 38 SHIP; 39 (E) SHALL PROVIDE FOR REASONABLE PROCEDURES FOR NOTIFICATION OF THE 40 CORPORATION BY THE INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER OF THE END OF THE 41 DOMESTIC PARTNER RELATIONSHIP; 42 (F) MAY, FOR PERSONS NOT DEEMED AS QUALIFIED PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH 43 (C) OR (D) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, INCLUDE PROVISIONS REQUIRING PRIOR COHABI- 44 TATION OF THE INSURED OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER AND THE DOMESTIC PARTNER, 45 PROVIDED THAT SUCH PERIOD OF REQUIRED COHABITATION MAY NOT EXCEED SIX 46 MONTHS; AND 47 (G) MAY, FOR PERSONS NOT DEEMED AS QUALIFIED PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH 48 (C) OR (D) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, REQUIRE THE SUBMISSION OF REASONABLE 49 DOCUMENTATION OF RESIDENCE AND FINANCIAL INTERDEPENDENCE OF THE KIND 50 COMMONLY AVAILABLE TO MARRIED PERSONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, 51 INCOME TAX RETURNS, PASSPORTS, DRIVERS' LICENSES, UTILITY BILLS, LEASES, 52 DEEDS, JOINT BANKING AND CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS, RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS AND 53 INSURANCE POLICIES AND BENEFIT STATEMENTS. 54 S 6. This act shall take effect immediately.