Same-sex couples married in other states will be recognized as such in New York under a directive issued by Governor Paterson, according to a report in the New York Times.

Under the new policies, New York will become the first state to accept same-sex marriages performed in other states where they are legal, such as California and Massachusetts, but not allow same-sex marriages in the state itself. Same-sex families could now enjoy benefits given, such as visitation rights and joint-tax filings, the Times reported.

The move came about after two Democratic state legislators, state Senator Tom Duane and Assembly member Micah Kellner, both of Manhattan, wrote to the state counsel, David Nocenti, after a California judge legalized same-sex marriage, saying that the state should recognize marriages in other jurisdictions or they themselves would introduce legislation to achieve the policy.

Governor Spitzer pursued legalizing same-sex marriage during his time in office. While the Democratic-controlled Assembly has passed legislation allowing same-sex marriage, the Republican-controlled Senate has blocked similar efforts. Mr. Paterson’s policy raises the stakes in the next election, where the Democrats are one seat away from controlling the Senate, potentially making New York the third state in the country to allow same-sex couples to marry.