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DE RUEHC #7315/01 1802215
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 292153Z JUN 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 8079
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC 9277
RUEHFSC/USOFFICE FSC CHARLESTON 2606
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RUEAGSA/GSA OFFICE INFO SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
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RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 067315 
 
SIPDIS, PASS TO ALL USAID MISSIONS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ALOW AMGT AFIN
SUBJECT: INTERIM DSSR CHANGES TO INCLUDE SAME-SEX DOMESTIC 
PARTNERS 
 
REF: DSSR 
 
¶1. On June 18, the Secretary of State announced that the 
Department is extending the full range of legally 
available benefits to same-sex domestic partners of 
Department employees sent to serve abroad. On June 17, 
President Obama called on the heads of all other 
executive departments and agencies to determine what 
authority they have to extend such benefits to same-sex 
domestic partners.  To implement the Secretary's 
announcement, the Under Secretary of State for Management 
has approved interim changes to the Department of State 
Standardized Regulations (DSSR) to include same-sex 
domestic partners for purposes of calculations and 
payments of allowances.  Other agencies may follow-suit 
and implement these benefits for their civilian employees 
serving overseas. 
 
¶2. The full text for the interim changes can be found at the 
following State Department Intranet site: 
http://aoprals.a.state.gov/news_story.asp?new s_id=58. 
 
The changes can also be found at the following Internet site: 
http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_ id=356&menu_id=92 
 
The interim changes carry an effective date of July 5, 2009 
for the Department of State.  If other agencies decide to 
implement the changes as well, they may do so on the same date 
or on any subsequent date.  Because these are interim changes 
and the agency review process has not yet concluded, final 
changes will be published with TL: SR 713 dated 
8/2/09,available on both the Internet and Intranet websites on 
or about 8/3/09.  The Internet site address for the final 
regulations will be: 
http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_ id=231&menu_id=92 
 
The State Department Intranet site address for the final 
regulations will be: 
http://aoprals.a.state.gov/content.asp?conten t_id=282&menu_id=86 
 
 
¶3. As approved by the Under Secretary, Section 040m will 
define "Family" and "family member" as follows: 
 
(1) spouse or domestic partner (the latter as defined by 
agency regulations, when the head of agency determines 
this is in the interest of the Government), but not 
both; 
 
 
STATE 00067315  002 OF 002 
 
 
(2) children who are unmarried and under 21 years of age 
or, regardless of age, are incapable of self-support. 
The term shall include, in addition to natural 
offspring, step and adopted children and those under 
legal guardianship of the employee, of the spouse, or 
of the domestic partner when such children are 
expected to be under such legal guardianship at least 
until they reach 21 years of age and when dependent 
upon and normally residing with the guardian. Any 
child or children of a domestic partner of an employee 
shall be deemed a stepchild of the employee.  (See 
Sections 270 and 280 on education allowances and 
educational travel.); 
 
(3) parents (including step- and legally adoptive 
parents) of the employee, of the spouse, or of the 
domestic partner, when such parents are at least 51 
percent dependent on the employee for support; 
 
(4) sisters and brothers (including step or adoptive 
sisters, or step or adoptive brothers) of the 
employee, of the spouse, or of the domestic partner, 
when such sisters and brothers are at least 51 percent 
dependent on the employee for support, unmarried and 
under 21 years of age or, regardless of age, are 
incapable of self-support.  (See also Sections 270 and 
280 on education.); 
 
(5) when determined by the head of agency to be in the 
interest of the Government, a father, mother, brother, 
sister, son or daughter, regardless of age or 
dependency, who acts as the official hostess or 
equivalent for an employee who has no spouse or 
domestic partner residing with him or her at the post. 
 
¶4. Other DSSR provisions will be amended to include domestic 
partners or domestic partnerships, including Sections 030 
(Applicability), 120 (Quarters Temporary Subsistence 
Allowance), 130 (Living Quarters Allowance), 240 (Foreign 
Transfer Allowance), 250 (Home Service Transfer Allowance), 
260 (Separate Maintenance Allowance), and 600 (Evacuation 
Payments). 
 
¶5. As set forth in State 066740 (DTG 262320Z JUN 09), in order 
to obtain benefits for their same-sex domestic partners, 
Department of State employees must: (1) file an affidavit of 
eligibility for benefits and obligations (available at 
http://hrweb.hr.state.gov/prd/hrweb/dg/pc/sam e_sex_domestic_pa 
rtners.cfm ) and, (2) update their OF-126 (Residency and 
Dependency Report).  In addition, employees serving or 
assigned overseas must submit Form SF-1190 (Foreign Allowances 
Application, Grant and Report) in order to include newly- 
declared family members for overseas allowances purposes. 
 
¶6. Questions may be addressed to the Office of Allowances 
by phone at 202-261-8700, by fax at 202-261-8707, or by 
email at allowanceso@state.gov. 
 
¶7. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. 
CLINTON