TRENTON -- A bill extending greater legal protection to same-sex couples is scheduled for a vote in the full Senate today, leaving it one step shy of passage.

Gov. James E. McGreevey, who has until midnight Jan. 12 to sign into law any legislation passed before the new Legislature takes over, has pushed for the measure.

Supporters contend it is an important legal step for gays and lesbians.

"It's a matter of basic fairness. And it's a matter of basic dignity for loved ones to be able to be in a hospital or be part of medical decisions," said Micah Rasmussen, a McGreevey spokesman. "To deny them any of those rights is an injustice."

The legislation would recognize "domestic partnerships," which could include either unmarried heterosexual couples over 64 or same-sex groupings.

Under the Democratic proposal, same-sex partners would:

• Be granted the right to collect the public pensions of deceased partners;
• Be guaranteed hospital visitation during illnesses;
• Qualify them to receive health benefits in a partner's name.

However it would stop short of traditional marriage in two ways: It would not entitle partners in the arrangements to the same property rights as married spouses, and child custody rights would be slightly scaled back.

Sheryl Jacques, president and executive director of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay, lesbian and transgender advocacy group, called the legislation an important start. But Jacques said it does not go far enough.

"Anytime a law is passed in any state it provides important rights and responsibility to gay and lesbian families. Important work is being done," Jacques said.

But a number of senators contend the state's economic climate is not right for the partnerships to be recognized. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle said they would not approve the legislation until it goes before the Senate Budget Committee.

State Sen. Stephen Sweeney, D-3 of West Deptford, said he does not plan to vote in favor of the bill. His main objection, he said, was a provision granting the rights to couples together for six months or more.

That timeframe needs to be made longer and a fiscal impact study needs to be done before making more people eligible for state pensions or health care, according to Sweeney.

"As far as the concept, I do believe in the fairness of it. I do believe we need to be fair to everyone," Sweeney said.

Those in domestic partnerships "should enjoy the same benefits we all enjoy. But there are a couple of things we are dealing with here in New Jersey. We're dealing with a financial crisis where we're cutting programs."

Debate on the topic brings to the front burner a long-simmering issue for many.

The Catholic Conference of New Jersey opposed the measure Wednesday in a statement. The statement was unsigned.

"The prime movers behind this legislation are homosexual persons who seek legal affirmation that their cohabitation is equal in every way to marriage," the statement said. "The wholesale acceptance of domestic partnerships discounts the fact that throughout history marriage --- the union of one man and one woman ---has offered societal stability by forming the physical, economic and cultural base for the orderly procreation, nurture and education of the next generation."

Frank Francoer, a former priest who now teaches human sexuality courses at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, said controversy over the unions is off base.

Efforts to pass same sex partnerships have taken much the same timbre as the civil rights movement of the 1960s, Francoer said.

"There's a polar divide because you're touching on marriage and the way we deal with marriage," Francoer said. "The majority of people are still going to get involved in heterosexual relationships and will want to get married. That is the goal of most people, whether they are gay or straight."

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