SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Gray Davis announced this past Saturday, Aug. 16, that he will sign legislation giving domestic partners most of the same legal rights and obligations that married couples in California have.

The bill passed the state Assembly and is slated for a vote by the Senate Appropriations Committee Aug. 25.

Davis usually doesn’t indicate how he feels about legislation before it reaches his desk, but he’s done so for a number of bills recently, including measures dealing with access to abortion and driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants.

Aides say the announcements have nothing to do with Davis’ efforts to fend off a recall attempt.

The bill is AB 205, the Domestic Partners Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2003. Davis said the legislation drafted by Democratic Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg helps ensure “fairness for all Californians.”

“As governor I will continue to do everything within my power to honor the dignity, humanity and privacy of every Californian regardless of their ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender or sexual orientation,” Davis said.

The domestic partners bill would, among other things, allow domestic partners to file joint state income tax returns and give them the same tax exemptions enjoyed by married couples.

It would also give them the same rights as married couples regarding the acquisition, transfer and sharing of property, health insurance and pension coverage and collection of government benefits, including public assistance.

“When this bill is signed it will be a truly historic day for everyone who supports civil rights,” said Geoffrey Kors, executive director of Equality California (formerly C.A.P.E.), the group that first proposed the legislation. “Enactment of this legislation marks a milestone in the struggle for equality for same-sex couples. By announcing his support for AB 205, and his intention to sign it into law upon passage by the California Legislature, the governor has affirmed his strong support for family values by recognizing that all families deserve equal recognition. He has again demonstrated his commitment to create a State that respects and protects all of its residents, including those of us who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.”

AB 205 is also supported by Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, Attorney General Bill Lockyer and Secretary of State Kevin Shelley. A key issue that has come up relates to the cost savings to the state that are anticipated once AB 205 goes into effect. A study performed by the Williams Project at UCLA Law School released earlier this year found that the measure would save the state at least $8 to $10 million per year, mainly due to savings from considering the income of both partners in determining eligibility for government benefit programs.