2022 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 73
BY SENATOR MIZELL
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To extend the term of the Task Force on Benefits of Marriage and Incentives for Premarital
Counseling and Pre-Divorce Counseling that was created to study the benefits of
marriage and the possible incentives to promote premarital counseling and
pre-divorce counseling and to make policy recommendations to the legislature.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 107 of the 2019 Regular
Session of the Louisiana Legislature, the legislature created the Task Force on Benefits of
Marriage and Incentives for Premarital Counseling and Pre-Divorce Counseling to conduct
a study of the issues related to the benefits of marriage on individual men, women, and
children, and on society as a whole, to study the impact that incentives for premarital and
pre-divorce counseling have on the reduction of divorce, and to make policy
recommendations to the legislature regarding legislation that the task force may deem
appropriate to address the issues studied by the task force; and
WHEREAS, the term of the Task Force on Benefits of Marriage and Incentives for
Premarital Counseling and Pre-Divorce Counseling is extended to study the effectiveness
of premarital counseling and educational programs and related legislation in other states for
the purpose of implementing such programs in Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission offers the Healthy
Marriage Program which provides voluntary marriage, premarital, and relationship education
skills; and
WHEREAS, Texas law codifies premarital education courses which include
instruction in conflict management, communication skills, and the key components of a
successful marriage; and
WHEREAS, The Marriage Relationship title of the Texas laws governing marriage
incorporates experts from various sectors of society including marriage educators, clergy,
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licensed mental health professionals, faith-based organizations, and community-based
organizations; and
WHEREAS, the curricula of a premarital education course pursuant to Texas law,
must provide the skills-based and research-based curricula of the United States Department
of Health and Human Services healthy marriage initiative, the National Healthy Marriage
Resource Center, criteria developed by the Health and Human Services Commission, or
other similar resources; and
WHEREAS, the study of marriage relationship laws and programs which have
proven to be successful in other states for the purpose of implementing similar programs and
introducing similar legislation in Louisiana, would promote the benefits of marriage and the
incentives of premarital counseling and pre-divorce counseling to further the goal of
increasing marriage success and reducing the rate of divorce in this state.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
extend the term of the Task Force on Benefits of Marriage and Incentives for Premarital
Counseling and Pre-Divorce Counseling to study the effectiveness of premarital counseling,
marriage and relationship educational programs and related legislation in other states for the
purpose of implementing such programs and introducing similar legislation in Louisiana, and
to make policy recommendations, together with specific proposals for legislation, no later
than December 30, 2022.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall consist of the same members
as listed in Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 107 of the 2019 Regular Session of the
Louisiana Legislature.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that task force members shall serve without
compensation or reimbursement of expenses, other than what may be afforded by the
member's appointing authority; legislative members of the task force shall receive the same
per diem and reimbursement of travel expenses as provided for attendance at legislative
committee meetings under the rules of the respective house in which they serve.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the names of the appointees and their designees
to the task force shall be submitted to the Senate Select Committee on Women and Children
by August 15, 2022.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the membership of the task force
constitutes a quorum and, if all task force members have not been appointed by
September 1, 2022, a majority of the appointed membership shall constitute a quorum.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no later than December 30, 2022, the task force
shall prepare a written report of its findings and recommendations to the legislature.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force on Benefits of Marriage and
Incentives for Premarital Counseling and Pre-Divorce Counseling shall be abolished on
January 2, 2023.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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