Illinois civil unions law goes into effect Wednesday

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed the civil unions legislation into law back in January.Law grants hospital visitation, adoption, parental rights to those in civil unionsGov. Pat Quinn said "the people of Illinois believe in equality for all"An opponent of the law called the effort "divisive" and "anti-family" California, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington and D.C. have similar lawsRead more about this story from CNN affiliate WLS.

(CNN) -- Starting Wednesday, same-sex couples in Illinois can enter into civil unions and enjoy many of the legal protections granted to married couples.

In January, Illinois joined five other states in legalizing civil unions. Gov. Pat Quinn signed the law in front of a crowd of cheering residents during a ceremony in a Chicago auditorium.

"We are showing the world that the people of Illinois believe in equality for all," Quinn said January 31. "We look forward to individuals and businesses from across the country choosing to move to Illinois where we believe that everyone is entitled to the same rights."

The provision, which goes into effect Wednesday, is called Senate Bill 1716 and creates the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act.

The new law will allow same-sex and heterosexual couples to enter into civil unions granting them many rights given to married couples.

These rights include automatic hospital visitation rights, the ability to make emergency medical decisions for partners, the ability to share a room in a nursing home, adoption and parental rights, pension benefits, inheritance rights and the right to dispose of a partner's remains, the governor's office said.

"In addition to Illinois, five other states and the District of Columbia have civil unions or similar laws on the books. Those states include California, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington," the governor's office said.

But some in Illinois object to the new law.

Illinois Family Institute, a nonprofit group that says it wants to reaffirm marriage in the state, called the law "divisive."

"Gov. Quinn should reject this anti-family bill and reject the efforts of the homosexual lobby to impose this highly contentious and controversial policy on the people of Illinois," David E. Smith, executive director of the group, said earlier.

But couples like Mercedes Santos and Theresa Volpe said the new law will dramatically change their lives.

It gives them the rights that other families have when it comes to their 6-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son, they told CNN affiliate WLS earlier this year.

"Our son actually has some illnesses, so going into the hospital, being able to say that we can both be in the room with him and make decisions without too many questions, just makes it easier for us," Santos said.

CNN

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Wisconsin Judge Declares Union Law Not in Effect

AP/Milwakee Journal Sentinel

Friday: Judge Maryann Sumi listens to arguments during a hearing in Dane County Curcuit Court in Madison, Wis.

A Wisconsin judge ruled Thursday that the state's explosive new union law that would severely limit the collective bargaining power of most public-sector employees is not in effect.

Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi's ruling follows a restraining order she issued earlier this month preventing the secretary of state from publishing the law, typically the last step before it takes effect. But another state office published it and Republicans who pushed the legislation declared the law in effect. Sumi issued a declaration on Thursday morning saying the law wasn't properly published.

The ruling deals a setback to Gov. Scott Walker and his administration, which said Tuesday that work on the payroll changes would stop if Sumi ruled the law hadn't taken effect.

The ruling is just the latest twist in a budget drama that has gripped the nation's attention for the last several weeks.

Republicans passed the bill this month by outmaneuvering Senate Democrats who had fled the state to block a vote. Republicans split the collective bargaining part from the budget relief bill so they wouldn't need a quorum to hold a vote.

But Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne and Assembly Minority Leader Pete Barca, both Democrats, filed a court challenge, arguing that Republicans violated the open meetings laws.

As the open meetings suit was pending, Sumi issued a temporary restraining order that prevented Secretary of State Ken LaFollete from publishing the law, now known as Act 10. Publication of the law is the last step to putting a bill into effect, and Democrats argue that the law is not in effect until LaFollete issues the publication. However, the Legislative Reference Bureau also has responsibility for publishing laws, and Republicans said LRB's publication makes it official.

Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen had advised Walker that because Sumi didn't specifically name the administration in her order barring further action on the law, it can proceed with the payroll changes. Justice Department Executive Assistant Steve Means said Wednesday that the state's position had not changed.

Republican Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald went further, openly questioning the judge's right to rule in the case, saying it "flies in the face of the separation of powers between the three branches of government."

"It's disappointing that a Dane County judge wants to keep interjecting herself into the legislative process with no regard to the state constitution," Fitzgerald said in a statement.

Walker released the rest of this year's budget balancing plan Wednesday, drawing support from Democratic leaders, and the Legislature was expected to pass it next week.

Sumi and others have suggested the Legislature could resolve issues over the legality of the collective bargaining law by simply passing it again.

Fox News' Mike Tobin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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