85R21910 MM-F
By: Cortez H.B. No. 818
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 818:
By: Neave C.S.H.B. No. 818
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to authorizing the county clerk in certain counties to
conduct certain marriage ceremonies and collect a related fee;
authorizing a fee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 2.202, Family Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) For a marriage ceremony in which a participant is a
member of the United States armed forces in active-duty status and
which is performed in a county with a population of at least 1.7
million that contains a municipality in which at least 75 percent of
the county's population resides, the county clerk and any deputy
clerk appointed by the clerk are authorized to conduct the
ceremony.
SECTION 2. Section 51.402, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) In a county to which Section 2.202(a-1), Family Code,
applies, the county clerk and any deputy clerk appointed by the
clerk may conduct a marriage ceremony for a member of the United
States armed forces in active-duty status.
SECTION 3. Subchapter G, Chapter 51, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.6045 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.6045. MARRIAGE CEREMONY FEE. A clerk or deputy
clerk who conducts a marriage ceremony under Section 51.402(a-1)
shall collect a $25 fee for conducting the ceremony. The clerk or
deputy clerk shall deposit the fee in the county treasury to be used
by the county only to fund charitable organizations that:
(1) assist or provide care for victims of family
violence or of child abuse or neglect; or
(2) provide family violence prevention services.
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a marriage ceremony that is conducted on or after the effective date
of this Act. A marriage ceremony conducted before the effective
date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the
ceremony was conducted, and the former law is continued in effect
for that purpose.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.