2014 -- S 2155

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES

     Introduced By: Senators McCaffrey, Ruggerio, and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: January 29, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 15-3-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 15-3 entitled "Solemnization

of Marriages" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     15-3-5. Officials empowered to join persons in marriage. -- Every ordained clergy or

elder in good standing, every justice of the supreme court, superior court, family court, workers'

compensation court, district court or traffic tribunal, the clerk of the supreme court, every clerk or

general chief clerk of a superior court, family court, district court, or traffic tribunal, magistrates,

special or general magistrates of the superior court, family court, traffic tribunal or district court,

administrative clerks of the district court, administrators of the workers' compensation court,

every former justice or judge and former administrator of these courts and every former chief

clerk of the district court, and every former clerk or general chief clerk of a superior court, the

secretary of the senate, elected clerks of the general assembly, any former secretary of the senate

or any former elected clerk of the general assembly who retires after July 1, 2007, judges of the

United States appointed pursuant to Article III of the United States Constitution, bankruptcy

judges appointed pursuant to Article I of the United States Constitution, and United States

magistrate judges appointed pursuant to federal law, may join persons in marriage in any city or

town in this state; and every justice and every former justice of the municipal courts of the cities

and towns in this state and of the police court of the town of Johnston and every probate judge

and every former probate judge may join persons in marriage in any city or town in this state, and

wardens of the town of New Shoreham may join persons in marriage in New Shoreham. In

addition to the foregoing, the governor may designate any person to solemnize a particular

marriage on a particular date and in a particular city or town, and may for cause at any time

revoke such designation; provided, however, that no felon shall be permitted to solemnize a

particular marriage until completion of such felon's sentence, served or suspended, and on parole

or probation regardless of a nolo contendere plea. In the case of persons so designated by the

governor, the secretary of state shall promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary to

implement and carry out the provisions of this section and upon payment to him or her of the sum

of one hundred fifty dollars ($150), shall issue to said person a certificate of such designation.

Such certificate shall expire upon either the completion of such solemnization or the day

following the particular date set forth in said certificate, whichever shall occur first. The fees

collected under this section shall be deposited into the general fund.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS -- SOLEMNIZATION OF MARRIAGES

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     This act would allow the governor to designate any person not having a felony criminal

record to solemnize a marriage. The secretary of state would promulgate rules to implement this

designation. The certificate for said designation would cost one hundred fifty dollars ($150).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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