79S20372 KSD-F



By:  Alonzo                                                       H.B. No. 64 







A BILL TO BE ENTITLED



AN ACT



relating to persons who are authorized to conduct a marriage 

ceremony.      

	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        

	SECTION 1.  Section 2.202(a), Family Code, is amended to 

read as follows:    

	(a)  The following persons are authorized to conduct a 

marriage ceremony:    

		(1)  a licensed or ordained Christian minister or 

priest;                   

		(2)  a Jewish rabbi;                                                          

		(3)  a person who is an officer of a religious 

organization and who is authorized by the organization to conduct a 

marriage ceremony; and

		(4)  a justice of the supreme court, judge of the court 

of criminal appeals, justice of the courts of appeals, judge of the 

district, county, and probate courts, judge of the county courts at 

law, judge of the courts of domestic relations, judge of the 

juvenile courts, retired justice or judge of those courts, justice 

of the peace, retired justice of the peace, judge of a municipal 

court, retired judge of a municipal court, or judge or magistrate of 

a federal court of this state.

	SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only 

to a marriage ceremony that is conducted on or after the effective 

date of this Act.  A marriage ceremony conducted before the 

effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the 

date the ceremony was conducted, and the former law is continued in 

effect for that purpose.

	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 

Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the 

legislative session.