MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) — A city committee in Marietta has approved a plan aimed at extending retirement benefits to same-sex couples.

The City Council is now scheduled to consider the change, which would give employees in same-sex relationships the chance to receive retirement benefits now given to men and women who are married.

The Marietta Daily Journal reports (http://bit.ly/1mWptDT) that the change in the retirement plan was approved Wednesday by a 3-0 vote of the city's personnel and insurance committee.

The change must still be approved by the city council, which is set to take up the matter Sept. 10.

The Marietta newspaper reports that the change stems from an Internal Revenue Service mandate which requires retirement plans to recognize same-sex couples if they were married in a state that has legalized gay marriage.

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