The Cobb County Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 Tuesday to allow same-sex spouses of Cobb employees to receive pension benefits.
This new language states “the person who is treated as married to such Participant under the laws of the state in which the Participant resides” since the U.S. Supreme Court decision of June 26.
However, for county employees whose pension benefit began before that decision, spouse or eligible spouse still means “the lawful wife of a male participant, or the lawful husband of a female participant,” on the participant’s benefit commencement date or his date of death, if earlier, “unless otherwise required by law,” according to the new provision.
That means the pension benefits will not be retroactive for those who began collecting benefits before the June ruling.
This change was approved as a part of the consent agenda that was not discussed as a separate item.
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