Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/277189
Since the city established its ordinance, 60 complaints have been filed, according to the report, and only two have proceeded to a hearing. The total cost to the city has been roughly $158,000, not including staff time. But the Sarasota model isn't the only one. Pinellas County has established an Office of Human Rights, with a director and 10 full-time staffers, to handle discrimination complaints. That office also conducts investigations and is empowered to enforce state and federal law. Orange County, meanwhile, offers sim- ilar protections as the City of Sarasota, but it requires that those discriminated against file suit. So what will the commission now do with DeMarsh's report? That's an open question. Nowak tells The Sarasota News Leader that Mason indicated to her she would bring up the issue at a commission meeting soon, but the item hasn't been placed on any upcoming agendas and Mason did not respond to multi- ple News Leader voicemails. As the debate over the human rights ordi- nance unfolds, the county this week officially launched another program that was pushed by LGBT activists: The county's domestic part- nership registry went live Thursday morning. The registry allows permanent county resi- dents to file as domestic partners if they share a residence. The measure permits partners to act as healthcare surrogates, gives them visi- tation rights in healthcare facilities, lets them make funeral and burial decisions and more. Couples hoping to register can either down- load the form from the website of the Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller or just click here. You can also grab physical copies at either of the Clerk's offices. The registry has been a longtime priority of former City Commissioner Ken Shelin, who has worked his way around the region, promoting the registry concept city by city. Shelin tells the News Leader he's not sure the county registry will be popular, though. He notes that the commission chose to grant domestic partnership rights only to full-time county residents, cutting out snowbirds, and it doesn't allow partners to contribute to edu- cational decisions for a minor. "I think it has less appeal to a lot of people," Shelin says of the registry. As of press time (i.e. three hours after the office opened — not the widest sample), the Clerk's office had yet to record any registrations, but a representa- tive there did say residents had called to ask about it. At least the price is right, Shelin says. The cost to register with the county is $20.50. In the City of Sarasota, it's $30. % Sarasota County Commissioner Carolyn Mason listens to discussion. File photo Sarasota News Leader March 14, 2014 Page 15