Amendment #1443 to H4700

Banning Child Marriage

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Ferguson of Holden, Frost of Auburn, Gifford of Wareham, Barrows of Mansfield and Smola of Warren moves to amend the bill by adding the following sections:

“SECTION X. Chapter 207 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 7, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, 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 X. Said chapter 207 is hereby further amended by striking out section 24, as so appearing, 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SECTION X. Section 25 of said chapter 207 is hereby repealed.

SECTION X. Section 27 of said chapter 207, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the second and third sentences.

SECTION X. Said chapter 207 is hereby further amended by striking out section 33A, as so appearing, 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 age of the parties and verifying that both parties are not less than18 years of age. Such proof shall be contained in any of the following documents, graded and taking precedence in the following order: (i) an original or certified copy of a record of birth; (ii) an original or certified copy of a baptismal record; (iii) a passport; (iv) a life insurance policy; (v) an employment certificate; (vi) a school record; (vii) an immigration record; (viii) a naturalization record; or (ix) a court record. The clerk or registrar shall not accept documentary evidence of a lower grade unless the clerk or registrar is satisfied that evidence of a higher grade is not readily procurable.

SECTION X. Section 34 of said chapter 207 is hereby repealed.

SECTION X. Section 53 of said chapter 207, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 2, the words “section thirty–three” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- sections 24 and 33A.”

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #1443 to H4700

Banning Child Marriage