BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 2100
79R9037 MSE-D By: Delisi (Nelson)
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current law, county clerks file marriage license applications and the bureau of vital statistics keeps records of those license applications. There is no provision for a special license which interested parties may receive to commemorate either a marriage or a significant wedding anniversary. This bill would require the Department of State Health Services to create and sell heirloom wedding anniversary certificates, with the proceeds going to the childhood immunization account.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 194.005, Health and Safety Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
[While the statutory reference in this bill is to the Texas Department of Health, the following amendments affect the Department of State Health Services, as the successor agency to the Texas Department of Health.]
SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 194, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 194.005, as follows:
Sec. 194.005. HEIRLOOM WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CERTIFICATE. (a) Requires the Texas Department of Health (TDH) to promote the sale of an heirloom wedding anniversary certificate. Requires TDH to solicit donated designs for the certificate from Texas artists and select the best donated designs for the form of the certificate.
(b) Requires TDH to prescribe a $50 fee for the issuance of an heirloom wedding anniversary certificate.
(c) Requires the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission to adopt rules designating certain milestone wedding anniversary dates and to design and promote heirloom wedding anniversary certificates celebrating those anniversary dates.
(d) Requires TDH to create an heirloom wedding anniversary certificate ordering system that includes printed order forms available through TDH and an online ordering system.
(e) Requires an heirloom wedding anniversary certificate produced by TDH under this section to be printed on parchment paper and be not smaller than 11 inches by 14 inches in size.
(f) Provides that an heirloom wedding anniversary certificate produced by TDH under this section is not a marriage license, and does not establish and is prohibited from being used to establish a marriage relationship.
(g) Requires TDH to deposit proceeds it receives from the issuance of heirloom wedding anniversary certificates to the credit of the childhood immunization account. Provides that the childhood immunization account is an account in the general revenue fund. Authorizes money in the account may to be used only by TDH for certain purposes.
SECTION 2. Requires, as soon as possible after the effective date of this Act, DSHS to begin the process of designing the form of the heirloom wedding anniversary certificate in accordance with Section 194.005, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. Authorizes DSHS to appoint an advisory committee to assist the department in soliciting donated designs and selecting the best designs.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2005.