End-of-Life Bill Headed to Minn. Gov.

A bill that gives same-sex couples the right to make end-of-life decisions for each other and file wrongful death suits appears headed for the desk of Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty after passing the state senate and house.

According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the bill was pushed by a group called Project 515, named for the number of Minnesota state laws that discriminate against committed couples who cannot marry. The bill passed the senate last year, and recently passed the house by a vote of 78 to 55.

“Pawlenty's position on it is unknown, but he signed another Project 515 bill last year that protects the homes of surviving same-sex partners from being sold to cover state medical bills,” reports the Pioneer Press.

“The debate in the House expanded into a debate about gay marriage, but the bill survived. It includes the right for a surviving partner to decide what to do with the deceased partner's body. It also allows suing responsible parties should the partner be killed.”