'Sec. 1. 15 MRSA §321, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1995, c. 469, §1, is further amended to read:

1. Definition. For purposes of this section, "family or household members" means spouses or domestic partners or former spouses or former domestic partners, individuals presently or formerly living as spouses, natural parents of the same child, adult household members related by consanguinity or affinity or minor children of any household member when the offender is an adult household member. Holding oneself out to be a spouse is not necessary to constitute "living as spouses." For purposes of this subsection, "domestic partners" are persons that bear the same relationship to each other as do persons meeting the requirements set forth in Title 24, section 2319-A, subsection 1.

Sec. 2. 18-A MRSA §1-201, sub-§(17), as enacted by PL 1979, c. 540, §1, is amended to read:

(17) "Heirs" means those persons, including the surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner, who are entitled under the statutes of intestate succession to the property of a decedent. For purposes of this subsection, "domestic partner" means a person that bears the same relationship to the decedent as a person meeting the requirements in Title 24, section 2319-A, subsection 1 bears to a subscriber or member.