HOUSE BILL No. 5165


     October 9, 2001, Introduced by Reps. Hager, Voorhees, Kooiman, McConico, Ehardt, Vander Veen, Bishop and Jansen and referred to the
Committee on Tax Policy.


        A bill to amend 1887 PA 128, entitled

   "An act establishing the minimum ages for contracting marriages;
   to require a civil license in order to marry and its registra-
   tion; to provide for the implementation of federal law; and to
   provide a penalty for the violation of this act,"

   (MCL 551.101 to 551.111) by amending the title, as amended by

   1998 PA 333, and by adding section 12.

               THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

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                                    TITLE

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           An act establishing the minimum ages for contracting mar-

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      riages; to require a civil license in order to marry and its reg-

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      istration; to provide for the implementation of federal law; TO

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      PRESCRIBE CERTAIN PROGRAMS RELATING TO MARRIAGE; and to provide a

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      penalty for the violation of this act.

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           SEC. 12.  (1) IF THE PARTIES TO A MARRIAGE ATTEND AND

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      COMPLETE A QUALIFYING MARRIAGE PRESERVATION PROGRAM, THE PARTIES



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      MAY CLAIM THE INCOME TAX CREDIT PROVIDED IN SECTION 269 OF THE

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      INCOME TAX ACT OF 1967, 1967 PA 281, MCL 206.269.

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           (2) A QUALIFYING MARRIAGE PRESERVATION PROGRAM MUST MEET ALL

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      OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

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           (A) BE DESIGNED AS EITHER A PREMARITAL EDUCATION OR COUNSEL-

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      ING PROGRAM OR A RELATIONSHIP EDUCATION OR COUNSELING PROGRAM FOR

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      A MARRIED COUPLE THAT HAS AS ITS PRIMARY FOCUS SKILL-BUILDING

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      STRATEGIES FOR STRENGTHENING OR PRESERVING MARRIAGE.

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           (B) INCLUDE AT LEAST THE FOLLOWING:

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           (i) CONFLICT MANAGEMENT.

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           (ii) COMMUNICATION SKILLS.

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           (iii) FINANCIAL MATTERS.

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           (iv) IF A COUPLE HAS OR INTENDS TO HAVE CHILDREN, CHILD AND

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      PARENTING RESPONSIBILITIES.

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           (C) BE AT LEAST 4 HOURS LONG AND CONDUCTED BY 1 OR MORE OF

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      THE FOLLOWING:

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           (i) A PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR, A MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERA-

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      PIST, OR A FULL OR LIMITED LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST, LICENSED UNDER

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      ARTICLE 15 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH CODE, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.16101

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      TO 333.18838.

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           (ii) A SOCIAL WORKER OR CERTIFIED SOCIAL WORKER WHO WAS

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      GRANTED A REGISTRATION UNDER SECTION 18509 OR 18511 OF THE PUBLIC

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      HEALTH CODE, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.18509 AND 333.18511.

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           (iii) A PSYCHIATRIST AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN SECTION 100C

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      OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CODE, 1974 PA 258, MCL 330.1100C.

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           (iv) AN OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION

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      OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE.


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           Enacting section 1.  This amendatory act does not take

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      effect unless Senate Bill No. _____ or House Bill No. 5153

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      (request no. 00006'01 **) of the 91st Legislature is enacted into

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      law.
















































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