CO. CLERK SOLEMNIZING A MARRIAGE S.B. 667 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS
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Senate Bill 667 (Substitute S-2 as reported)
Sponsor: Senator Cameron S. Brown
Committee: Judiciary
CONTENT
The bill would amend Chapter 83 of the Revised Statutes of 1846 to authorize a county clerk to solemnize a marriage in a county other than the one in which he or she serves, with the written authorization of the clerk of that county.
Chapter 83 lists the officials who may solemnize a marriage, including a county clerk in the county in which he or she serves, and in a county with a population over 2 million, an employee of the clerk's office designated by the county clerk.
Chapter 83 requires a county clerk, if the clerk or a designated employee solemnizes a marriage, to charge and collect a fee determined by the commissioners of that county. The fee must be paid to the county treasurer and deposited in the county's general fund. The bill specifies that the fee would have to be determined by the commissioners of the county in which the clerk served, be paid to the treasurer for the county in which the clerk served, and be deposited in the general fund of that county.
MCL 551.7 Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill could alter the distribution of local unit revenue by an unknown and likely negligible amount. While the bill would expand the number of individuals authorized to perform marriages in a given location, the number of marriages performed is likely to remain essentially unchanged. Consequently, the bill could change the distribution of fees or contributions among the local units that have individuals authorized to solemnize marriages. The actual amount of the change would depend upon the number of individuals using a clerk to solemnize a marriage outside of the clerk's respective county, as well as the fees set by the local units.
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State government.
Date Completed: 11-28-07 Fiscal Analyst: David Zin
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb667/0708