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H.B. 147 Enrolled

             1     

UTAH MARRIAGE COMMISSION

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: LaVar Christensen

             5     
Senate Sponsor: John L. Valentine

             6      Cosponsors:
             7      Jacob L. Anderegg
             8      Stewart Barlow
             9      Kay J. Christofferson
             10      Keith Grover
             11      Stephen G. HandyGregory H. Hughes
Eric K. Hutchings
Dana L. Layton
John G. Mathis
Ronda Rudd Menlove
Jim NielsonMichael E. Noel
Curtis Oda
Dixon M. Pitcher
Douglas V. Sagers
V. Lowry Snow              12     
             13      LONG TITLE
             14      General Description:
             15          This bill modifies the Utah Human Services Code to create the Utah Marriage
             16      Commission.
             17      Highlighted Provisions:
             18          This bill:
             19          .    creates the Utah Marriage Commission within the Department of Human Services;
             20      and
             21          .    establishes the duties of the commission.
             22      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             23          None
             24      Other Special Clauses:
             25          None
             26      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             27      ENACTS:
             28          62A-1-120, Utah Code Annotated 1953


             29     
             30      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             31          Section 1. Section 62A-1-120 is enacted to read:
             32          62A-1-120. Utah Marriage Commission.
             33          (1) As used in this section, "commission" means the Utah Marriage Commission
             34      created by this section.
             35          (2) There is created within the department the "Utah Marriage Commission."
             36          (3) The commission shall consist of 17 members appointed as follows:
             37          (a) two members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate;
             38          (b) two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the
             39      House of Representatives;
             40          (c) six current or former representatives from marriage and family studies departments,
             41      social or behavioral sciences departments, health sciences departments, colleges of law, or
             42      other related and supporting departments at institutions of higher education in this state, as
             43      shall be appointed by the governor;
             44          (d) five representatives selected and appointed by the governor from among the
             45      following groups:
             46          (i) social workers who are or have been licensed under Title 58, Chapter 60, Part 2,
             47      Social Worker Licensing Act;
             48          (ii) psychologists who are or have been licensed under Title 58, Chapter 61,
             49      Psychologist Licensing Act;
             50          (iii) physicians who are or have been board certified in psychiatry and are or have been
             51      licensed under Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act;
             52          (iv) marriage and family therapists who are or have been licensed under Title 58,
             53      Chapter 60, Part 3, Marriage and Family Therapist Licensing Act;
             54          (v) representatives of faith communities;
             55          (vi) public health professionals;
             56          (vii) representatives of domestic violence prevention organizations; or


             57          (viii) legal professionals; and
             58          (e) two representatives of the general public appointed by the members of the
             59      commission appointed under Subsections (3)(a) through (d).
             60          (4) (a) A member appointed under Subsections (3)(c) through (e) shall serve for a term
             61      of four years. A member may be appointed for subsequent terms.
             62          (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (4)(a), the governor shall, at the time of appointment
             63      or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms of commission members
             64      are staggered so that approximately half of the commission is appointed every two years.
             65          (c) A commission member shall serve until a replacement is appointed and qualified.
             66          (d) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall be
             67      appointed for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.
             68          (5) (a) The commission shall annually elect a chair from its membership.
             69          (b) The commission shall hold meetings as needed to carry out its duties. A meeting
             70      may be held on the call of the chair or a majority of the commission members.
             71          (c) Nine commission members constitute a quorum and, if a quorum exists, the action
             72      of a majority of commission members present constitutes the action of the commission.
             73          (6) A commission member may not receive compensation or benefits for the
             74      commission member's service, but may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance
             75      with:
             76          (a) Section 63A-3-106 ;
             77          (b) Section 63A-3-107 ; and
             78          (c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
             79      63A-3-107 .
             80          (7) The department shall staff the commission.
             81          (8) The commission shall:
             82          (a) promote coalitions and collaborative efforts to uphold and encourage a strong and
             83      healthy culture of strong and lasting marriages and stable families;
             84          (b) contribute to greater awareness of the importance of marriage and leading to


             85      reduced divorce and unwed parenthood in the state;
             86          (c) promote public policies that support marriage;
             87          (d) promote programs and activities that educate individuals and couples on how to
             88      achieve strong, successful, and lasting marriages, including promoting and assisting in the
             89      offering of:
             90          (i) events;
             91          (ii) classes and services, including those designed to promote strong, healthy, and
             92      lasting marriages and prevent domestic violence;
             93          (iii) marriage and relationship education conferences for the public and professionals;
             94      and
             95          (iv) enrichment seminars;
             96          (e) actively promote measures designed to maintain and strengthen marriage, family,
             97      and the relationships between husband and wife and parents and children; and
             98          (f) support volunteerism and private financial contributions and grants in partnership
             99      with the commission and in support of the commission's purposes and activities for the benefit
             100      of the state as provided in this section.
             101          (9) Funding for the commission shall be as approved by the Legislature through annual
             102      appropriations and the added funding sought by the commission from private contributions and
             103      grants that support the duties of the commission described in Subsection (8).


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