Bill Text: NJ S2388 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Provides for immediate issuance of marriage and civil union licenses; provides for 72 hour waiting period prior to the ceremony.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-06-20 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee [S2388 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-S2388-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 2388

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED JUNE 20, 2016

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JEFF VAN DREW

District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Provides for immediate issuance of marriage and civil union licenses; provides for 72 hour waiting period prior to the ceremony.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

 

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] immediately upon the filing of the application [therefor has been 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].

     The marriage or civil union ceremony may not take place during the 72-hour period immediately following the issuance of the marriage or civil union license. This 72-hour waiting period after issuance of the marriage or civil union license shall not apply to an applicant who is an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard.

     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

 

     Under current law, there is a 72 hour mandatory waiting period prior to the issuance of a marriage or civil union license. This bill would provide for a marriage or civil union license to be issued immediately upon the filing of the application. However, individuals would be required to wait 72 hours to perform the marriage ceremony.  An exception to the 72 hour waiting period before the ceremony may be performed would be provided for an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States and the National Guard.