HOUSE BILL No. 6352

 

August 16, 2006, Introduced by Rep. Bieda and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

 

     A bill to amend 1887 PA 128, entitled

 

"An act establishing the minimum ages for contracting marriages; to

require a civil license in order to marry and its registration; to

provide for the implementation of federal law; and to provide a

penalty for the violation of this act,"

 

by amending section 2 (MCL 551.102), as amended by 1998 PA 333.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 2. (1) Blank forms for a marriage license and certificate

 

shall be prepared and furnished by the state registrar appointed by

 

the director of the department of community health to  the  each

 

county  clerks  clerk of this state in  quantities  the quantity

 

needed. The blank  forms  form for a license and certificate shall

 

be made in duplicate and shall provide spaces for the entry of

 

identifying information of the parties and other items prescribed

 

in rules promulgated by the director of the department of community

 


health. The state registrar shall furnish to  all the  each county

 

clerks  clerk of this state blank application forms of an affidavit

 

containing the requisite allegations, under the laws of this state,

 

of the competency of the parties to unite in the bonds of

 

matrimony, and as required to comply with federal law, containing a

 

space requiring each applicant's social security number. A party

 

applying for a license to marry shall make and file the application

 

in the form of an affidavit with the county clerk as a basis for

 

issuing the license. The license shall be made a matter of record

 

and shall be transmitted to the department of community health in

 

the manner prescribed by the state registrar. The state registrar

 

shall not require an applicant's social security number to be

 

displayed on the marriage license.

 

     (2) A person shall not disclose, in a manner not authorized by

 

law or rule, a social security number collected as required by this

 

section. A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable

 

by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more

 

than $500.00, or both. A second or subsequent violation of this

 

subsection is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than

 

4 years or a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both.

 

     (3) A requirement under this section to include a social

 

security number on an application does not apply to an applicant

 

who demonstrates he or she is exempt under law from obtaining a

 

social security number or to an applicant who for religious

 

convictions is exempt under law from disclosure of his or her

 

social security number under these circumstances. The county clerk

 

shall inform the applicant of this possible exemption.

 


     (4) A member of the armed forces who is unable to appear at a

 

marriage ceremony may enter into that marriage by the appearance of

 

a third party, empowered to act through a written power of

 

attorney. The power of attorney shall state the true legal names of

 

the parties to be married, be signed by the member of the armed

 

forces, be acknowledged by a notary public or witnessed by 2

 

officers of the armed forces, and state that the power of attorney

 

is solely for the purpose of authorizing the third party to

 

participate in the solemnization of the marriage on the armed

 

forces member's behalf. The party who is not a member of the armed

 

forces shall file the power of attorney with the county clerk with

 

the marriage application. If the party who is not a member of the

 

armed forces files a valid power of attorney with the county clerk,

 

the county clerk shall indicate on the marriage license that the

 

third party is empowered to act on behalf of the member of the

 

armed forces to enter into that marriage. As used in this

 

subsection, "member of the armed forces" means a member of the

 

national guard, United States army, navy, marine corps, air force,

 

or coast guard serving outside of the United States, including

 

reserve components.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take effect

 

unless Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 6351(request no.

 

07062'06) of the 93rd Legislature is enacted into law.