Bill Text: IA HF142 | 2015-2016 | 86th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to a reduction in the application fee for a license to marry based upon the completion of premarital counseling.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-03 - Introduced, referred to Judiciary. H.J. 185. [HF142 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2015-HF142-Introduced.html
House File 142 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY FRY A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to a reduction in the application fee for a 2 license to marry based upon the completion of premarital 3 counseling. 4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 1922YH (2) 86 pf/nh PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 331.605, subsection 1, paragraph g, Code 1 2 2015, is amended to read as follows: 1 3 g. (1)ForExcept as provided in subparagraph (2), for 1 4 filing an application for the license to marry, thirty=five 1 5 dollars, which includes payment for one certified copy of the 1 6 original certificate of marriage, to be issued following filing 1 7 of the original certificate of marriage, four dollars of which 1 8 shall be retained by the county pursuant to paragraph "f". 1 9 (2) For filing an application for a license to marry, five 1 10 dollars, if the applicants submit and the county registrar 1 11 approves the certificate of completion of premarital counseling 1 12 pursuant to section 595.3B, which includes payment for one 1 13 certified copy of the original certificate of marriage, to 1 14 be issued following filing of the original certificate of 1 15 marriage, four dollars of which shall be retained by the county 1 16 pursuant to paragraph "f". 1 17 (3) For issuing an application for an order of the district 1 18 court authorizing the validation of a license to marry before 1 19 the expiration of three days from the date of issuance of the 1 20 license, five dollars. The district court shall authorize the 1 21 early validation of a marriage license without the payment 1 22 of any fees imposed in this paragraph upon showing that the 1 23 applicant is unable to pay the fees. 1 24 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 595.3B Application == premarital 1 25 counseling. 1 26 1. An application form for a marriage license shall have 1 27 attached a certificate form to be used by the parties to 1 28 document completion of premarital counseling by the parties. 1 29 The certificate shall be completed by the parties and signed 1 30 by the person who provided the premarital counseling. The 1 31 certificate shall require provision of all of the following 1 32 information: 1 33 a. The name of the person providing the premarital 1 34 counseling and the person's signature verifying completion of 1 35 the premarital counseling by the parties. 2 1 b. The number of hours of premarital counseling completed. 2 2 c. Whether the premarital counseling was provided through 2 3 individual instruction or a premarital course, and whether the 2 4 counseling was provided in=person, via electronic media, or 2 5 through a combination of these methods. 2 6 2. Only premarital counseling provided by the following 2 7 persons meets the requirement of provision of premarital 2 8 counseling under this section: 2 9 a. A person ordained or designated as a leader of a party's 2 10 religious faith or the person's designee. 2 11 b. A person licensed to practice psychology pursuant to 2 12 chapter 154B or licensed to practice psychology in any other 2 13 state. 2 14 c. A person licensed to practice social work pursuant to 2 15 chapter 154C or licensed to practice social work in any other 2 16 state. 2 17 d. A person licensed to practice marital and family therapy 2 18 pursuant to chapter 154D or licensed to practice marital and 2 19 family therapy in any other state. 2 20 3. If the parties applying for a license to marry complete 2 21 the premarital counseling certificate and the certificate is 2 22 approved, the parties shall pay the license fee of five dollars 2 23 pursuant to section 331.605. 2 24 EXPLANATION 2 25 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 2 26 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. 2 27 This bill relates to marriage license conditions and fees. 2 28 The bill reduces the marriage license fee for parties who have 2 29 completed premarital counseling from $35 to $5. 2 30 The bill provides that the application form for a marriage 2 31 license is to have attached a certificate form to be used by 2 32 the parties to document completion of premarital counseling. 2 33 The certificate is to be completed by the parties and signed by 2 34 the person who provided the premarital counseling. The bill 2 35 specifies the information to be included on the certificate 3 1 and specifies the persons who meet the requirements to provide 3 2 premarital education. LSB 1922YH (2) 86 pf/nh
