Proposal for a change in IIT's Benefits Policy
submitted to the University Faculty Council
by Jay D. Schieber, ChEE, 8 April 2005

Currently, the only benefits eligible people at IIT are (1) employees, (2) married spouses of employees, (3) families of employees, and (4) same-sex domestic partners of employees. Who is missing? Opposite-sex domestic partners of employees. This is (unintentionally) discriminatory, and I propose that it be fixed.

The current policies are:
http://www.iit.edu/policies/personnel/b10.htm
My proposal is simply to remove the term "same-sex" from the current policy.

Current Policy:


Subject: Domestic Partnership


Effective October 1, 1997, benefits-eligible faculty and staff of IIT may enroll same-sex domestic partners in university benefit programs. To enroll, a complete Certification of Domestic Partnership and completed enrollment forms for the desired and eligible coverage must be submitted to Human Resources within 30 days of the date of employment benefit eligibility.

10.01 Eligibility

To qualify for coverage under IIT-sponsored benefit plans, an employee and his or her same-sex domestic partner must complete a Certification of Domestic Partnership certifying that they share a residence and have done so for at least six months; have a close and committed personal relationship and intend to remain so indefinitely; share basic living expenses; are not married to anyone; are not related by blood in a way that would bar marriage in the state of Illinois; are both age 18 or older and mentally competent to consent; and are each other's sole domestic partner and are mutually responsible for each other's welfare.

10.02 Insured Benefits

Health and dental coverage are available to an employee's same-sex domestic partner and eligible children, with contributions at family rates.
. . .


Proposed new language:

Subject: Domestic Partnership

Effective October 1, 1997, benefits-eligible faculty and staff of IIT may enroll domestic partners in university benefit programs. To enroll, a complete Certification of Domestic Partnership and completed enrollment forms for the desired and eligible coverage must be submitted to Human Resources within 30 days of the date of employment benefit eligibility.

10.01 Eligibility

To qualify for coverage under IIT-sponsored benefit plans, an employee and his or her domestic partner must complete a Certification of Domestic Partnership certifying that they share a residence and have done so for at least six months; have a close and committed personal relationship and intend to remain so indefinitely; share basic living expenses; are not married to anyone; are not related by blood in a way that would bar marriage in the state of Illinois; are both age 18 or older and mentally competent to consent; and are each other's sole domestic partner and are mutually responsible for each other's welfare.

10.02 Insured Benefits

Health and dental coverage are available to an employee's domestic partner and eligible children, with contributions at family rates.
. . .