On June 24, 2011, New York Senate voted, 33-29, to give final approval to a bill, A-08354, that recognizes same sex marriage in New York. Govenor Andrew M. Cuomo immediately signed the bill which will become effective in 30 days.
The bill, codified as the Marriage Equality Act amends the Domestic Relations Law to provide:
• A marriage that is otherwise valid shall be valid regardless of whether the parties to the marriage are of the same or different sex
• No government treatment or legal status, effect, right, benefit, privilege, protection or responsibility relating to marriage shall differ based on the parties to the marriage being the same sex or a different sex
• All relevant gender-specific language set forth in or referenced by New York law shall be construed in a gender-neutral manner
• No application for a marriage license shall be denied on · the ground that the parties are of the same or a different sex
Under the bill, the rights under same-sex marriage will include:
• Employer-sponsored health insurance.
• Equitable property distribution, maintenance, custody and visitation if the couple divorces.
• A presumption that a child in a dissolved marriage is the child of both parents.
• Statutory inheritance rights.
• The right to bring a claim for the wrongful death of a spouse.
• The right to seek Workers’ Compensation death benefits.
• The spousal privilege in legal proceedings.