Senate Bill 13-011 Summary

• Creates the "Colorado Civil Union Act" establishing civil unions between two eligible adults regardless of gender, granting civil union partners the same rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities as married spouses under Colorado law.

• Requires county clerks to issue civil union licenses and certificates upon meeting eligibility criteria (both parties adults, not already married or in civil union, not related by blood); establishes $7 license fee plus additional fees for domestic abuse programs and vital statistics.

• Extends civil union recognition to all areas of Colorado law including property rights, inheritance, adoption, workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, health insurance coverage, family leave, and domestic violence protections.

• Permits dissolution, legal separation, and declaration of invalidity of civil unions following the same procedures as marriage, with Colorado district courts having jurisdiction; recognizes civil unions and similar relationships legally created in other jurisdictions.

• Makes appropriations totaling $10,997 and 0.2 FTE from the vital statistics records cash fund for implementation; effective May 1, 2013, except employment-related provisions effective January 1, 2014.