Effective Wednesday, same-sex spouses of Texas public employees are eligible for benefits. Texas public employers, such as state agencies, universities and school systems, will extend their existing benefits to employees’ same-sex spouses.
“This is a momentous day,” employment and civil rights attorney Austin Kaplan said. “For the first time in history, the state has no choice but to provide married couples, if they are legally married, the same benefits across the board.”
Right now, Texas pays nearly 50 percent of the health premiums for their state employees. Kaplan said an estimated 2,000 new eligible customers will sign up for benefits starting Wednesday.
“The process is simple,” Kaplan said. “Click on the link, go to the website, send an email and attach your marriage license to that email and request your benefits. And that’s it.”
The University of Austin and Teacher Retirement System of Texas were the first to announce their plan to extend their existing benefits.
“It’s a new day in Texas. Other states have been through this, so there is a model for Texas to follow,” Kaplan said, “but it is an exciting new day in Texas for rights – equality and liberty for folks.”
For more information on the process, visit the Employees Retirement System of Texas website:www.ers.state.tx.us