It appears certain that the Domestic Partnership Act will be enacted in New Jersey. The new law will have a big impact on New Jersey employers. The law will prohibit job discrimination based on domestic partner status. It will require all health insurance contracts in the state to offer dependent coverage to domestic partners. However, an employer is not required to provide dependent coverage to domestic partners but may voluntarily do so. If the employer chooses to do so, it may require the employee to contribute a portion or the full amount of the cost of the dependent coverage.
Public employers participating in the State Health Benefits Plan and/or the Public Employees Retirement System are not required to provide health or retirement benefits to domestic partners but may voluntarily adopt a resolution to do so.