(Cincinnati) -- The City of Cincinnati could soon be offering health insurance to the domestic partners of its employees.

The measure has the support of eight of the nine Council members, so it will likely pass when it comes up Wednesday.  Sponsor Chris Seelbach says they took their time crafting the bill because it's the right thing to do, and they wanted to do it right.

Seelbach introduced the measure right after taking office.  He says it's taken this long to get this far, because they wanted to make sure it's not abused.  It will apply to straight, but unmarried partners as well as same-sex households.  The couples do have to sign a statement of financial dependency, and lying on that form will be a felony.

Seelbach says having domestic partner benefits puts Cincinnati in line with other major cities in Ohio, and around the country, and with many large corporations.

The cost is still up in the air, because it's not clear how many employees have domestic partners.  The measure is expected to pass at Wednesday's meeting.  if it does, enrollment will take place in the fall.