SRC-LBB S.B. 7 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 7
78R1217 KSD-DBy: Wentworth
State Affairs
4/1/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas law prohibits issuing a marriage license for persons of
the same sex.  However, the law is silent on the status of civil unions.
As proposed, S.B. 630 provides that Texas may not give effect to a
same-sex marriage or civil union. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 1B, Family Code, by adding Section 1.109, as
follows: 

Sec.  1.109.  RECOGNITION OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE OR CIVIL UNION.  (a)
Defines "civil union." 

(b)  Prohibits the state from giving effect to a public act, record, or
judicial proceeding that recognizes or validates a marriage or civil union
between persons of the same sex or to a right or claim asserted as a
result of the purported marriage or civil union.   

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.