Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs proposed following Orlando's lead in passing a domestic partnership registry.

The registry would be open to anyone as of now, but the benefits would be with in the county limits.

People have two options: Registering through the help ordinance, which stands for healthcare or end-of-life protection ordinance or filing through the city's domestic partnership registry.

Jacobs believes her proposal is more inclusive, available to seniors, widows and friends who don't co-habitate to benefit the elderly.

The Orlando registry, passed back in December, requires people to be at least 18-years-old, unmarried, competent, must co-habitate, and have joint financial dependency.
Jacobs said the board will need to go over guidelines for emergency notifications, funeral and burial  decisions and public education participation and how it applies to public and private schools within county limits.

The process will continue with commissioners talking to funeral directors and school officials. The county attorney will then write up a draft of the ordinance and then another meeting will be held in front of the Board of County Commissioners.