HBA-LCA H.B. 3130 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3130
By: Chisum
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
7/15/1999
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 76th Texas Legislature, the law did not permit a county judge
to issue a waiver for the 72-hour waiting period required between the
issuance of a marriage license and the marriage ceremony.  While the waiver
may have been issued by a district judge, in rural areas a district judge
is often shared among several counties, limiting accessibility to the
judge.  H.B. 3130 authorizes a county judge to issue the waiver to increase
accessibility to a judicial officer who may issue the waiver.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 2.204(c), Family Code, to include a county judge
among judges empowered to waive the required 72-hour waiting period between
the issuance of a marriage license and the marriage ceremony.  Authorizes a
judge to sign such a waiver nothwithstanding any other provision of law. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.
            Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.