HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4241 FILED ON: 10/29/2015
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3897
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Kenneth I. Gordon and Patricia D. Jehlen
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act expanding opportunity to officiate marriage ceremonies.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Kenneth I. Gordon | 21st Middlesex | 10/29/2015 |
Patricia D. Jehlen | Second Middlesex | 10/29/2015 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4241 FILED ON: 10/29/2015
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3897
By Representative Gordon of Bedford and Senator Jehlen, a joint petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Kenneth I. Gordon and Patricia D. Jehlen relative to persons authorized to perform marriage ceremonies. The Judiciary. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)
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An Act expanding opportunity to officiate marriage ceremonies.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Section 1. Section 38 of Chapter 207 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2015 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking lines 30 through 35 staring with the word “which” and replacing it with the following:
The authority of any officiant who certifies the performance of a marriage ceremony by executing a Notice of Intention pursuant to the authority granted by this Section is presumed and any such marriage performed by such officiant presumed valid and enforceable.
Section 2. Section 39 of said Chapter 207 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2015 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking lines 40 through 46 and replacing it with the following:
In addition to the foregoing, the clerk of the municipality in which the Notice of Intention of Marriage is filed pursuant to Section 19 of this Chapter may, upon application by the persons intending to be joined in marriage may designate any other person to solemnize a particular marriage on a particular date and in a particular city or town, and may for cause at any time revoke such designation. The clerk of said municipality, upon payment of twenty-five dollars by said other person, shall issue to said person a certificate of such designation within three business days of application. Such certificate will remain in effect for a period of seven days after the date designated for such solemnization, and will expire upon completion of such solemnization. The municipal clerk shall waive the fee for said certificate upon a showing of good cause.