Domestic Partner Benefits . . . Staff Service ============================================= Domestic Partners: Recommendations of the Task Force on Benefits for Domestic Partners received unanimous approval both from the University Council at its December 8 meeting, and the Executive Committee of the Trustees on December 10. Following is the December 10 motion: Resolution on the Extension of Benefits to Same-Sex Domestic Partners Intention: In March, 1993, the Faculty Senate leaders, the Provost and the President, charged a Task Force on Benefits for Domestic Partners consisting of trustees, faculty and staff, "to consider the proposition that the University should provide to domestic partners of Penn employees the same benefits provided to spouses of employees." On October 19, 1993, the Task Force published "For Comment" in Almanac its preliminary report in which it recommended that the University accord benefits and privileges to the same-sex domestic partners of employees and their children that are comparable to the benefits accorded to spouses and their children. The President, after reviewing the comments and consulting with the Faculty Senate Leaders, the Provost, and the University Council, accepts the recommendation of the Task Force, and hereby requests that the trustees authorize the Vice President for Human Resources and other appropriate University officers to make such changes in the University's benefits plans and policies as are necessary to implement the recommendation of the Task Force. Resolved, that the Vice-President for Human Resources and other appropriate University officers are hereby authorized to adopt such amendments to University benefits plans and such changes in University policies as are necessary to extend to the same-sex domestic partners of employees and their children benefits which are comparable to those accorded to spouses and their children; and Further resolved, that the Vice-President for Human Resources or other appropriate University officers are hereby authorized to adopt administrative mechanisms for implementing the aforementioned changes in University benefit plans and policies and to take such other action as may in their judgment be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this resolution. At Council, an amendment had been proposed to strike the reference to "same sex," but it was withdrawn after Dr. Ann Matter of the Task Force that opposite-sex couples are already covered under Pennsyl-vania common law. Staff Service: At the December 8 meeting, Council also approved unanimously a Steering Com-mittee motion that University Governance is a responsibility of all members of the community. This includes staff as well as faculty, administration and students. Service on a University Council committee should be considered an integral part of the responsibility of all employees. Interim President Claire Fagin accepted the resolution and asked Human Resources Vice President William Holland to follow through on any steps needed to enable staff to attend meetings of Council committees. .