The three-member commission that legally has to approve lanaguage explaining constitutional amendments met today and this is what they came up with:
“A current North Carolina law enacted in 1996 says that marriage between individuals of the same sex are not valid in North Carolina. This amendment would make that concept part of the North Carolina Constitution. If this amendment is passed by the voters, then under state law it can only be changed by another vote of the people.
“The term ‘domestic legal union’ used in the amendment is not defined in North Carolina law. There is debate among legal experts about how this proposed constitutional amendment may impact North Carolina law as it relates to unmarried couples of same or opposite sex and same sex couples legally married in another state, particularly in regard to employment-related benefits for domestic partners; domestic violence laws; child custody and visitation rights; and end-of-life arrangements. The courts will ultimately make those decisions.
“The amendment also says that private parties may still enter into contracts creating rights enforceable against each other. This means that unmarried persons, businesses and other private parties may be able to enter into agreements establishing personal rights, responsibilities, or benefits as to each other. The courts will decide the extent to which such contracts can be enforced.”
Neither proponents nor opponents of the proposed amendment were satisfied, but both sides said they could live with it.
The commission was comprised of Attorney General Roy Cooper, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and Legislative Services Officer George Hall.
Marshall said the state Constitution has been amended 30 times since it was revamped in 1971, and voters have rejected seven proposed amendments during that time.
