Bill Text: NJ S242 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Eliminates standard waiting period for issuance of marriage or civil union license.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-12 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee [S242 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-S242-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 242

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  ROBERT W. SINGER

District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Eliminates standard waiting period for issuance of marriage or civil union license.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  

An Act concerning marriage and civil union licenses, and amending R.S.37:1-4.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    R.S.37:1-4 is amended to read as follows:

     37:1-4. Issuance of marriage or civil union license, [emergencies,] validity.

     Except as provided in R.S.37:1-6, the marriage or civil union license shall [not] be issued by a licensing officer [sooner than 72 hours after] at the time the application [therefor has been] is made [; provided, however, that the Superior Court may, by order, waive all or any part of said 72-hour period in cases of emergency, upon satisfactory proof being shown to it. Said order shall be filed with the licensing officer and attached to the application for the license]. 

     A marriage or civil union license, when properly issued as provided in this article, shall be good and valid only for 30 days after the date of the issuance thereof. 

(cf:  P.L.2006, c.103, s.9)

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill provides for the immediate issuance of marriage or civil union licenses.  Under current law, there is a standard, 72-hour mandatory waiting period prior to issuance of a marriage or civil union license.  For minors, parental or guardian consent is required prior to the issuance of a license, with written approval by a Judge of the Superior Court required when a license is sought by a minor under the age of 16.  This bill eliminates the 72-hour waiting period for issuance of a marriage or civil union license, however the additional restrictions for applicants who are minors would remain in place.