SENATE DOCKET, NO. 974        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 785

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Harriette L. Chandler

_________________

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 to end child marriage in Massachusetts.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Harriette L. Chandler

First Worcester

 

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

2/3/2017

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

1/25/2017

Jennifer E. Benson

37th Middlesex

1/25/2017

Carolyn C. Dykema

8th Middlesex

1/26/2017

Colleen M. Garry

36th Middlesex

1/30/2017

Michelle M. DuBois

10th Plymouth

1/31/2017

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

1/31/2017

Daniel M. Donahue

16th Worcester

2/2/2017

Paul R. Heroux

2nd Bristol

2/3/2017

Chris Walsh

6th Middlesex

2/3/2017

Dylan Fernandes

Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket

4/25/2017

Steven Ultrino

33rd Middlesex

6/1/2017

Joan B.  Lovely

Second Essex

6/8/2017

Jack Lewis

7th Middlesex

10/3/2017


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 974        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 785

By Ms. Chandler, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 785) of Harriette L. Chandler, Kay Khan, Marjorie C. Decker, Jennifer E. Benson and other members of the General Court for legislation to end child marriage in Massachusetts.  The Judiciary.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act to end child marriage in Massachusetts.

 

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. Chapter 207 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out section 7 and inserting in place thereof the following section:- 

Section 7. A magistrate or minister shall not solemnize a marriage if a party to the marriage is under the age of 18.

SECTION 2.  Said chapter 207, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out section 24 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 24. The clerk or registrar shall not receive a notice of the intention of marriage of a person under the age of 18.

SECTION 3. Section 25 of said chapter 207, as so appearing, is hereby repealed.

SECTION 4. Section 27 of said chapter 207, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the second and third sentences.

SECTION 5. Said chapter 207, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out section 33A and inserting in place thereof following section:-

Section 33A. The clerk or registrar shall not issue a certificate under section 28 before receiving proof of the age of the parties and verifying that neither party is under the age of 18. Such proof shall be contained in any of the following documents, graded and taking precedence in the order named: (1) an original or certified copy of a record of birth; (2) an original or certified copy of a baptismal record; (3) a passport; (4) a life insurance policy; (5) an employment certificate; (6) a school record; (7) an immigration record; (8) a naturalization record; or (9) a court record. Documentary evidence of a lower grade as aforesaid shall not be received by the clerk or registrar unless the clerk or registrar is satisfied that evidence of a higher grade is not readily procurable.

SECTION 6. Section 34 of said chapter 207, as so appearing, is hereby repealed.

SECTION 7. Section 53 of said chapter 207, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the words “section thirty–three”, in line 2, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- sections 24 and 33A.

SECTION 8. Chapter 272 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out section 1 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 1. Whoever fraudulently and deceitfully entices or takes away an unmarried person, for the purpose of effectuating a clandestine marriage of such person, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.