1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the judges empowered to waive the waiting period for a
 1-3     marriage ceremony.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 2.204(c), Family  Code, is amended to
 1-6     read as follows:
 1-7           (c)  An applicant may request a judge of a court with
 1-8     jurisdiction in family law cases, a justice of the supreme court, a
 1-9     judge of the court of criminal appeals, a county judge, or a judge
1-10     of a court of appeals for a written waiver  permitting the marriage
1-11     ceremony to take place during the 72-hour period immediately
1-12     following the issuance of the marriage license.  If the judge finds
1-13     that there is good cause for the marriage to take place during the
1-14     period, the judge shall sign the waiver.  Notwithstanding any other
1-15     provision of law, a judge under this section has the authority to
1-16     sign a waiver under this section.
1-17           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
1-18     applies only to a written waiver permitting the marriage ceremony
1-19     to take place during the 72-hour period immediately following the
1-20     issuance of the marriage license that is executed on or after that
1-21     date.  A waiver executed before the effective date of this Act is
1-22     governed by the law in effect on the date the waiver was executed,
1-23     and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
1-24           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-1     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-2     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-3     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-4     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 3130 was passed by the House on April
         16, 1999, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 3130 on May 22, 1999, by a non-record
         vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 3130 was passed by the Senate, with
         amendments, on May 20, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
         0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor