87R10635 MLH-D
By: Pacheco H.B. No. 2479
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to persons who are authorized to conduct a marriage
ceremony.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 2.202(a), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The following persons are authorized to conduct a
marriage ceremony:
(1) a licensed or ordained Christian minister or
priest;
(2) a Jewish rabbi;
(3) a person who is an officer of a religious
organization and who is authorized by the organization to conduct a
marriage ceremony;
(4) a justice of the supreme court, judge of the court
of criminal appeals, justice of the courts of appeals, judge of the
district, county, and probate courts, judge of the county courts at
law, judge of the courts of domestic relations, judge of the
juvenile courts, retired justice or judge of those courts, justice
of the peace, retired justice of the peace, judge of a municipal
court, retired judge of a municipal court, associate judge of a
statutory probate court, retired associate judge of a statutory
probate court, associate judge of a county court at law, retired
associate judge of a county court at law, or judge or magistrate of
a federal court of this state; [and]
(5) a retired judge or magistrate of a federal court of
this state;
(6) a current member of the state legislature; and
(7) the current governor or lieutenant governor of the
state.
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 572.062 to read as follows:
Sec. 572.062. USE OF STATE EMPLOYEES OR CERTAIN STATE
PROPERTY; PROHIBITION OF REMUNERATION. (a) A person authorized to
conduct a marriage ceremony under Section 2.202(a)(6) or (7),
Family Code, may not use in the course of any duties associated with
conducting a ceremony:
(1) the services of a state employee during the
employee's normal working hours; or
(2) postage or stationery purchased with state funds.
(b) A person authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony under
Section 2.202(a)(6) or (7), Family Code, may not receive:
(1) remuneration for performance of the ceremony; or
(2) any gift with a value greater than $50 for
performance of the ceremony.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.