Section 7. Definitions

A. “Act” means the Retiree Health Care Act (Sections 10-7C-1 to 16 NMSA 1978). B. “Domestic partner” means a person at least 18 years of age, not married or a member of another domestic partnership, who is in an exclusive committed relationship with and for the benefit of the retiree member, and who has shared a primary residence with the retiree member for twelve or more consecutive months, is jointly responsible with the retiree member for each other’s common welfare, shares joint financial obligations with the retiree member, and does not have a blood relationship with the retiree member such as to preclude marriage between them under New Mexico law. C. “Open enrollment period” means any of the periods commencing January 1, 2017, and ending January 31, 2017, or commencing on January 1 and ending on January 31 of every odd-numbered year thereafter, in which an eligible retiree, eligible spouse, eligible domestic partner or dependents authorized to participate in NMRHCA’s coverage may enroll into NMRHCA programs and outside of such periods an eligible retiree, eligible spouse, eligible domestic partner or eligible dependent may enroll into NMRHCA programs only upon the occurrence of a qualifying event as provided in 26 U.S.C. Section 125, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. D. “Termination of domestic partnership” means the cessation of the joint and mutually responsible financial and exclusive committed relationship required for a domestic partnership.