BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 322
	By: Seliger
	State Affairs
	4/25/2017
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The Family Code currently allows for certain individuals to conduct marriage ceremonies. These currently include a licensed or ordained Christian minister or priest, a Jewish rabbi, a person who is an officer of a religious organization, and a variety of individuals who hold judicial seats.

 

S.B. 322 adds current and former members of the state legislature to the list of individuals who are authorized to conduct marriage ceremonies. Under S.B. 322, members of the legislature may not conduct more than three marriages per year and may not accept compensation for performing the marriage. Further, conducting a marriage ceremony for a member of the armed services or a former member of the armed services will not count towards the limit of three ceremonies allowed in one year.

 

As proposed, S.B. 322 amends current law relating to authorizing 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(a), Family Code, as follows:

 

(a) Includes a current or former member of the state legislature in the list of persons authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony.

 

(a-1) Prohibits a current or former member of the state legislature from conducting more than three marriage ceremonies in a 12-month period.

 

(1) Requires that conducting a marriage ceremony for a member or former member of the armed services not count toward the amount of ceremonies performed under Subsection (a-1).

 

(a-2) Prohibits a current or former member of the state legislature from receiving compensation for performing a marriage ceremony.�

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017.