California Assembly Bill AB445 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 445AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 23, 2015 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 16, 2015 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Alejo FEBRUARY 23, 2015 An act to amend Section 400 of the Family Code, relating to marriage. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 445, as amended, Alejo. Marriage. Existing law enumerates persons who are authorized to solemnize a marriage, including any priest, minister, rabbi, or authorized person of any religious denomination. This bill would add a tribal court judge who has been authorized by tribal ordinance to solemnize marriages. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  yes   no  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 400 of the Family Code is amended to read: 400. Although marriage is a personal relation arising out of a civil, and not a religious, contract, a marriage may be solemnized by any of the following who is 18 years of age or older: (a) A priest, minister, rabbi, or authorized person of any religious denomination. A person authorized by this subdivision shall not be required to solemnize a marriage that is contrary to the tenets of his or her faith. Any refusal to solemnize a marriage under this subdivision, either by an individual or by a religious denomination, shall not affect the tax-exempt status of any entity. (b) A judge or retired judge, commissioner of civil marriages or retired commissioner of civil marriages, commissioner or retired commissioner, or assistant commissioner of a court of record in this state. (c) A judge or magistrate who has resigned from office. (d) Any of the following judges or magistrates of the United States: (1) A justice or retired justice of the United States Supreme Court. (2) A judge or retired judge of a court of appeals, a district court, or a court created by an act of Congress the judges of which are entitled to hold office during good behavior. (3) A judge or retired judge of a bankruptcy court or a tax court. (4) A United States magistrate or retired magistrate. (e) A legislator or constitutional officer of this state or a Member of Congress who represents a district within this state, while that person holds office. (f) A tribal court judge  who   that  has been authorized by tribal ordinance to solemnize marriages.