CIVIL UNIONS BEGIN:

The Connecticut legislature approved a bill legalizing civil unions for same sex couples in April, and Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed it into law. The new law, which contains a clause defining marriage as only between heterosexual couples but extends the same legal rights to gay couples, went into effect on Oct. 1.

The state insurance chief has said all health plans, with the exception of self-insured policies, must treat civil union partners as they would spouses. But Rep. Michael Lawlor (D-East Haven), a sponsor, said the law does not specifically require private employers to provide health insurance to same-sex partners. Bonnie Stewart, vice president for the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, said employers should just follow the rule that, “if you offer it to married couples, yes, now you have to offer it to a civil union couple.”