APNewsBreak: Alaska may make gay partners 'family'

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska State Personnel Board is considering including Same-sex partners in the definition of "immediate family."

The proposed change in rules would allow state employees to take family leave due to a serious health condition of a same-sex partner.

Same-sex marriage is not legal in Alaska because of a state constitutional amendment, but Deputy Personnel Director Nancy Sutch says the proposed change in rules stems from a recent review of a 2005 Alaska Supreme Court decision.

That decision says it is unconstitutional to offer valuable benefits to spouses but not to same-sex domestic partners.

The personnel board plans to consider the changes at its Sept. 19 meeting in Anchorage.