IN SB0192

Grants hospital visitation rights to individuals in domestic partnerships with patients, including children of domestic partners and domestic partners of a patient's parent or child, effective July 1, 2010

Defines domestic partnership as a relationship between two adults (18+) who are not blood relatives within four degrees, not married to others, and agree to mutual interdependence and support

Allows hospitals to require proof of domestic partnership through signed affidavits or documentation of two qualifying factors such as joint mortgage/lease, beneficiary designations, durable power of attorney, joint accounts, shared insurance policies, or cohabitation contracts

Permits hospitals to deny visitation when no visitors are allowed, when a visitor would endanger health or safety, or when the patient declines to see the visitor

Allows domestic partners to accompany ill or injured partners during emergency transport and hospital admission with the same visitation rights as immediate family members