PHOENIX—Ariz. Gov. Janet Napolitano said Dec. 4 that she wants Arizona to provide health benefits for state employees’ domestic partners for fairness.

“To me it’s an issue of employees all getting the same benefits,” said Napolitano, a Democrat.

The Arizona Department of Administration, headed by a Napolitano appointee, recently proposed changing eligibility rules for state employees’ benefits to include domestic partners and their children. The change is to be considered by a Napolitano-appointed regulatory review panel early next year but would not require approval by the Republican-led Arizona Legislature.

The proposal drew support from gay-rights advocates who had lobbied Napolitano and her Republican predecessor for the change.

“It’s literally taken 20 years to have this conversation,” said Barbara McCullough-Jones executive director of Equality Arizona.

The District of Columbia and 13 states now provide their employees with domestic partner benefits.