Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3879 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	By: Ramos, Lopez H.B. No. 3879
	1	+	By: Ramos H.B. No. 3879
	2	+	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3879:
	3	+	By: Dutton C.S.H.B. No. 3879
2	4
3	5
4	6		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	7		AN ACT
6	8		relating to the participation of armed forces members in a marriage
7	9		ceremony through video conference technology.
8	10		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	11		SECTION 1. Section 2.007, Family Code, is amended to read as
10	12		follows:
11	13		Sec. 2.007. AFFIDAVIT OF ABSENT APPLICANT. (a) The
12	14		affidavit of an absent applicant must include:
13	15		(1) the absent applicant's full name, including the
14	16		maiden surname of a female applicant, address, date of birth, place
15	17		of birth, including city, county, and state, citizenship, and
16	18		social security number, if any;
17	19		(2) a declaration that the absent applicant has not
18	20		been divorced within the last 30 days;
19	21		(3) a declaration that the absent applicant is:
20	22		(A) not presently married; or
21	23		(B) married to the other applicant and they wish
22	24		to marry again;
23	25		(4) a declaration that the other applicant is not
24	26		presently married and is not related to the absent applicant as:
25	27		(A) an ancestor or descendant, by blood or
26	28		adoption;
27	29		(B) a brother or sister, of the whole or half
28	30		blood or by adoption;
29	31		(C) a parent's brother or sister, of the whole or
30	32		half blood or by adoption;
31	33		(D) a son or daughter of a brother or sister, of
32	34		the whole or half blood or by adoption;
33	35		(E) a current or former stepchild or stepparent;
34	36		or
35	37		(F) a son or daughter of a parent's brother or
36	38		sister, of the whole or half blood or by adoption;
37	39		(5) a declaration that the absent applicant desires to
38	40		marry and the name, age, and address of the person to whom the
39	41		absent applicant desires to be married;
40	42		(6) the approximate date on which the marriage is to
41	43		occur; and
42	44		(7) the reason the absent applicant is unable to
43	45		appear personally before the county clerk for the issuance of the
44	46		license[; and
45	47		[(8) the appointment of any adult, other than the
46	48		other applicant, to act as proxy for the purpose of participating in
47	49		the ceremony, if the absent applicant is:
48	50		[(A) a member of the armed forces of the United
49	51		States stationed in another country in support of combat or another
50	52		military operation; and
51	53		[(B) unable to attend the ceremony].
52	54		(b) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (a), an
53	55		absent applicant who is a member of the armed forces of the United
54	56		States stationed in another country in support of combat or another
55	57		military operation who is unable to attend the marriage ceremony
56	58		authorized under Section 2.203 shall include in the applicant's
57	59		affidavit:
58	60		(1) the appointment of any adult, other than the other
59	61		applicant, to act as proxy for the purpose of participating in the
60	62		ceremony; or
61	63		(2) a statement indicating that the applicant would
62	64		prefer to participate in the ceremony through the use of video
63	65		conference technology if available.
64	66		SECTION 2. Section 2.203(b), Family Code, is amended to
65	67		read as follows:
66	68		(b) A person described by Section 2.007(b) may:
67	69		(1) assent to marriage by the appearance of the [a]
68	70		proxy appointed in the affidavit authorized by Subchapter A; or
69	71		(2) participate in the ceremony through the use of
70	72		video conference technology [if the person is:
71	73		[(1) a member of the armed forces of the United States
72	74		stationed in another country in support of combat or another
73	75		military operation; and
74	76		[(2) unable to attend the ceremony].
75	77		SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 27, Government Code, is
76	78		amended by adding Section 27.062 to read as follows:
77	79		Sec. 27.062. VIDEO CONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY. For purposes of
78	80		Section 2.203(b), Family Code, an office of the justice of the peace
79	81		that has video conference technology for courtroom use may make
80	82		that technology available for use in a ceremony conducted by the
81	83		justice of the peace presiding over the court in which the
82	84		technology exists.
83	85		SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.