By:  Lucio                                                        S.B. No. 1776


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, or judge or magistrate 
of a federal court of this state;
		(5)  a current or former member of the state 
legislature; and        
		(6)  a current or former statewide-elected state 
official.           
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 572.060 to read as follows:
	Sec. 572.060.  USE OF STATE EMPLOYEES.  (a)  A person 
authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony under Section 2.202(a)(5) 
or (7), Family Code, may not use in the course of any duties 
associated with conducting a ceremony:
		(1)  the services of a state employee during the 
employee's normal working hours; or
		(2)  postage or stationary purchased with state funds.                 
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.