A task force at Kansas University is examining ways that benefits could be extended to employees with domestic partners.

Lori Messinger, associate professor of social welfare, has conducted research into the area, and says that not offering the benefits can affect hiring and retention of staff members.

“We have lost people, even in my own department, who have had to go elsewhere because they couldn’t have benefits for domestic partners,” said Messinger, who is working on KU’s task force.

About 30 states offer the benefit to their employees, she said.

The benefits would likely extend not only just to health insurance, but also to other benefits like bereavement leave and faculty housing.

“All of those are using a definition of family that’s restricted to spouses,” Messinger said.

Though specific recommendations have not yet been created, Messinger said that any proposal would likely not use state funds to support health benefits, instead relying on private donations to support the costs.

KU’s university senate will likely consider the issue in the coming months, said Lisa Wolf-Wendel, faculty senate president. If a policy is approved there, it would be sent to university administrators for final approval.

One potential challenge to offering health insurance benefits has been that, in Kansas, all university employees are compelled to use the plan offered by the state, which does not cover domestic partners, Messinger said.

She said a policy like the one under consideration would be in keeping with the university’s statement of support for all of its employees, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

“If we’ve got a statement of non-discrimination, we should be supporting that,” Messinger said.