AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

S.B. 370 allows former and current legislators with 20 years of service in the legislature to perform marriage ceremonies a maximum of 12 times per year.   Current statute enforces a Class A misdemeanor (up to a $4,000 fine and one year in jail) for anyone who conducts a marriage ceremony and does not meet the criteria listed in statute.

 

As proposed, S.B. 370 amends current law relating to authorizing certain current and former members of the state legislature to conduct a marriage ceremony.

 

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 Section 2.202, Family Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1), as follows:

 

(a) Creates Subdivision (5) to include a current member of the state legislature who has served as a member of the legislature for not less than 20 years, and creates Subdivision (6) to include a former member of the state legislature who served as a member of the legislature for not less than 20 years as a person authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony. Makes a nonsubstantive change.

 

(a-1) Prohibits a person authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony under Subsection (a)(5) or (6) from conducting more than 12 marriage ceremonies in a 12-month period.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2013.