THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1155

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HEALTH.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  This Act amends existing law to create a category of "civil celebrants" that allows secular practitioners to solemnize marriage in this State, thereby ensuring equal treatment between religious and secular practitioners in regard to the rite of marriage.

     SECTION 2.  Section 572-12, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§572-12    By whom solemnized.  ( a)  A license to solemnize marriages may be issued to, and the marriage rite may be performed and solemnized by any:

     (1)  [minister,] Minister, priest, or officer of any religious denomination or society who has been ordained or is authorized to solemnize marriages according to the usages of such denomination or society[, or any];

     (2)  [religious] Religious society not having clergy but providing solemnization in accordance with the rules and customs of that society[, or any];

     (3)  [justice] Justice, [or] judge, or magistrate, active or retired, of a state or federal court in the State[,]; or

     (4)  Any civil celebrant;

upon presentation to such person or society of a license to marry, as prescribed by this chapter.  Such person or society may receive the price stipulated by the parties or the gratification tendered.

     (b)  As used in this section, "civil celebrant" means a person of a secular or non-religious organization who has received the consent of the parties to be married."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

 

Report Title:

Secular Marriage Solemnization

 

Description:

Authorizes issuance of licenses to solemnize marriages for persons of a secular or non-religious organization.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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