AN ACT CONCERNING WEDDING OFFICIANTS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 46b-22 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):

(a) Persons authorized to solemnize marriages in this state include (1) all judges and retired judges, either elected or appointed, including federal judges and judges of other states who may legally join persons in marriage in their jurisdictions, (2) family support magistrates, state referees and justices of the peace who are appointed in Connecticut, [and] (3) all ordained or licensed members of the clergy, belonging to this state or any other state, as long as they continue in the work of the ministry, and (4) any person duly authorized by the Secretary of the State to solemnize a particular marriage on a particular date in a particular municipality, if such person (A) completes a written application prescribed by the secretary that shall minimally set forth the names of the persons to be married, the date and place of the marriage and the name and address of the person who will be solemnizing the marriage, and (B) remits to the secretary a twenty-five dollar application fee. The Secretary of the State may, for good cause, revoke the authority to solemnize a marriage conferred on a person pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection at any time. The authority to solemnize a marriage conferred pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection shall expire upon the completion of such solemnization. All marriages solemnized according to the forms and usages of any religious denomination in this state, including marriages witnessed by a duly constituted Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is, are valid. All marriages attempted to be celebrated by any other person are void.

(b) No public official legally authorized to issue marriage licenses may join persons in marriage under authority of a license issued by himself, or his assistant or deputy; nor may any such assistant or deputy join persons in marriage under authority of a license issued by such public official.

(c) Any person violating any provision of this section shall be fined not more than fifty dollars.

Statement of Purpose:

To establish a process that will allow more family and friends to serve as wedding officiants in this state.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]