Chapter 258

2004 -- H 7765

Enacted 07/01/04

A N A C T

RELATING TO MARRIAGE LICENSES

Introduced By: Representatives Lewiss, Anguilla, Ginaitt, Kennedy, and Kilmartin

Date Introduced: February 11, 2004

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 15-2-3.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 15-2 entitled "Marriage

Licenses" is hereby amended to read as follows:

15-2-3.1. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome warning law. -- With each marriage license, the

town or city clerk shall provide a pamphlet information describing the causes and effects of fetal

alcohol syndrome.

     SECTION 2. Sections 15-2-6 and 15-2-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 15-2 entitled

"Marriage Licenses" are hereby repealed.

15-2-6. Physical examination and laboratory records confidential. -- All physical

examination and laboratory records pertaining to marriage licenses as applied to this chapter shall

be filed separately from the declarations of intention of marriage and shall be regarded as

absolutely confidential by any and every person, body, or committee whose duty it is or may be

to obtain, make, transmit, and receive the information and reports. Any person who knowingly,

outside of the requirements of this chapter, divulges the name of or gives any information relating

to any person suffering or suspected to be suffering from tuberculosis or venereal diseases shall

be imprisoned not more than six (6) months or fined not more than two hundred fifty dollars

($250).

15-2-10. Waiver of license requirements for physical examination and blood test(s). -

- No license shall be issued by a town or city clerk except as prescribed by the preceding sections

of this chapter unless a justice of the supreme, superior, family, district, or municipal court or the

Providence police court, after hearing in chambers any evidence that may be presented, shall

render a decision in writing that, in its opinion, public policy or the physical condition of either

one of the parties requires the intended marriage to be celebrated without delay. The court shall

have power to summon at the hearing those persons that it may deem advisable. The court shall

immediately notify the respective town or city clerk of its determination and shall file a notation

of its determination in the office of the clerk of the superior court, but any papers so filed at the

office of the clerk shall not be matters of public record and may be examined only upon written

authorization of the court.

     SECTION 3. Chapter 15-2 of the General Laws entitled "Marriage Licenses" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

15-2-1.1. Statewide electronic marriage license system. – Notwithstanding the

provisions of 15-2-1, at such time as the director of health adopts and implements a statewide

electronic marriage license issuance and record registration system, the license may be obtained

from the clerk in any city or town.

     SECTION 4. Section 15-3-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 15-3 entitled

"Solemnization of Marriages" is hereby amended to read as follows:

15-3-12. Endorsement and return of license. -- (a) Every minister, elder, justice,

warden, or other person who joins any persons in marriage, shall: endorse the license presented to

him or her by the persons, as provided in section 15-3-7, that they have been joined in marriage

by him or her, substantially in the following form, to wit:

RETURN OF MARRIAGE.

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

I hereby certify that the herein described ________ and ________ were joined in

marriage by me, in accordance with the laws of the state of Rhode Island, in the ________ of

________ this ________ day of ________ A.D. 20________.

Attest _______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Denomination of clergy _______________________________________________

Witnesses to the marriage (_________________________________________ )

(__________________________________________________________________ )

(b) Every person who joins any persons in marriage shall, within seventy-two (72) hours

following the date of the marriage, return the license, endorsed by him or her, to the town or city

in which the marriage was solemnized.

(a) endorse the "License and Certificate of Marriage" form, prescribed pursuant to section

15-2-7, presented to him or her by the persons, as provided in section 15-3-7, and certify that the

persons have been joined in marriage by him or her in accordance with the laws of the state of

Rhode Island; and

(b) complete all the information on the "License and Certificate of Marriage" and file the

form within seventy-two (72) hours following the date of the marriage with the clerk in the town

or city from which the license was issued.

     SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01449

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