Gay rights advocates have suggested a new draft of a civil-unions bill that would give both same-sex and heterosexual couples the option of entering into civil unions.

The draft also explicitly says the intent of the bill is not to revise the definition of marriage under state law, which is reserved between a man and a woman. The draft removes references to marriage and instead refers to the marriage chapter in state law.

The draft would still give same-sex couples who enter into civil unions the same rights, benefits and responsibilities as married couples under state law, but gay rights advocates hope that by offering civil unions to heterosexual couples, and softening the connection to marriage, the bill will be more palatable to skittish senators.

State Senate leaders are expected to discuss the new draft Tuesday in private caucus.

State Sen. Brian Taniguchi, D-10th (Manoa, McCully), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Government Operations Committee, where the bill is stalled, said the Senate would have to act by the Thursday deadline to have bills set for second crossover with the state House next week.

Taniguchi, who met with gay rights advocates yesterday afternoon, said he had no personal opinion yet on the draft but said there is some interest among senators. He said the options would be to hold a committee hearing on the draft or recall the existing bill to the Senate floor with the understanding that it would be amended.

"We're going to try to discuss it," he said. "I'm not particularly optimistic that a bill will pass."