SENATE DOCKET, NO. 343        FILED ON: 1/11/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 24

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Harriette L. Chandler

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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 to end child marriage in Massachusetts.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 343        FILED ON: 1/11/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 24

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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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 2016 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 Section 25 of said chapter 207, as so appearing, is hereby repealed.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 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 the 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 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 under eighteen, 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.