According to the Austin American Statesman, starting September 1st, the Austin Independent School District will offer health insurance benefits to domestic partners, which will include same-sex couples.
The Austin Independent School District will be the second school district in the state to offer health coverage to unmarried straight or gay couples. Austin School Superintendent Meria Carstarphen is the woman who is behind these changes in getting expanded health benefits in the district's 2013-2014 budget.
I personally believe this is a good idea and a step in the right direction. Not only is it taking a step in the direction of same sex marriages in Texas but there are also many people who have been in long-term relationships with their significant other and are not married and some prefer to not be married. In Texas this is called Common Law Marriage. This is very common in Texas and if these people have children together, are living together, and paying bills together who are we to say that they shouldn't be able to carry one or the other on their insurance policy? I myself have personally been in this situation and understand this situation all too well.
I also believe this is a good move for the Austin Independent School District because it will help bring the district an even more broader range of top quality employees and teachers who are looking for this particular benefit that they couldn't acquire somewhere else.
According to the Statesman, the district estimates that about 350 people would be added to its insurance plan under "expanded benefits," which would cost about $600,000 a year. The Austin district employs 12,000 employees.
The University of Texas, and Texas A&M University are pending legislation permitting the universities to offer expanded insurance benefits.
To read more about this you can click on the link below:
Deciding who gets health insurance should be left to local communities.
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