HB 337 - Domestic Partnerships Summary

• Establishes a civil domestic partnership registration system allowing two individuals 18+ years old (with at least one Florida resident) to file declarations with circuit court clerks and receive certificates of registered domestic partnership.

• Grants domestic partners equivalent legal rights and responsibilities as married spouses regarding taxes, inheritance, hospital visitation, custody of children, and domestic violence protections, except for benefits conflicting with federal tax law or ERISA regulations.

• Requires circuit court clerks to collect fees totaling $63.50 per domestic partnership registration ($2 base + $25 Domestic Violence Fund + $7.50 Displaced Homemaker Fund + $25 General Revenue + $4 health records maintenance).

• Allows termination of domestic partnerships through filing a notice with the Department of Health; partnerships automatically terminate if either partner marries another person.

• Makes false statements on domestic partnership declarations a first-degree misdemeanor; prohibits partnerships between parties already married or in existing partnerships, or between related individuals.