First Substitute S.B. 146

Senator Ron Allen proposes to substitute the following bill:

1 PERFORMING UNLAWFUL MARRIAGES
2 2001 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Ron Allen
5 This act modifies provisions pertaining to marriage. The act provides specific penalties for
6 performing marriages without authority or a valid license. It also provides a penalty for a
7 parent or guardian who allows a minor child to be married in violation of the law.
8 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
9 AMENDS:
10 30-1-5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
11 30-1-13, as last amended by Chapter 144, Laws of Utah 1992
12 30-1-14, Utah Code Annotated 1953
13 30-1-15, Utah Code Annotated 1953
14 ENACTS:
15 30-1-9.1, Utah Code Annotated 1953
16 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
17 Section 1. Section 30-1-5 is amended to read:
18 30-1-5. Marriage solemnization -- Before unauthorized person -- Validity.
19 [No] (1) A marriage solemnized before [any] a person professing to have authority
20 [therefor] to perform marriages shall not be [invalid] invalidated for [want] lack of [such]
21 authority, if consummated in the belief of the parties or either of them that he had [such] authority
22 and that they have been lawfully married.
23 (2) This section may not be construed to validate a marriage that is prohibited or void
24 under Section 30-1-2 .
25 Section 2. Section 30-1-9.1 is enacted to read:

26 30-1-9.1. Parental consent to prohibited marriage of minor -- Penalty.
27 A parent or guardian who knowingly consents, encourages, promotes, or allows a minor
28 child to enter into a marriage prohibited by this chapter is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
29 Section 3. Section 30-1-13 is amended to read:
30 30-1-13. Solemnization without license -- Penalty.
31 If any person solemnizes a marriage without a license, and if either party is under 16 years
32 of age, without a written authorization from a juvenile court, he is guilty of a class [B] A
33 misdemeanor, and a penalty of imprisonment shall be not less than [one month] six months.
34 Section 4. Section 30-1-14 is amended to read:
35 30-1-14. Acting without authority -- Impersonation -- Forgery -- Penalty.
36 [If any person not authorized solemnizes a marriage under pretense of having authority, or
37 falsely personates the father, mother or guardian in obtaining a license, or forges the name of the
38 father, mother or guardian to] A person is guilty of a third degree felony if he:
39 (1) solemnizes a marriage in violation of either Section 30-1-6 or 30-1-7 ;
40 (2) impersonates a parent or guardian of a minor to obtain a license for the minor to marry;
41 or
42 (3) forges the name of a parent or guardian of a minor on any writing purporting to give
43 consent to [such marriage, he shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison not exceeding
44 three years] a marriage of a minor.
45 Section 5. Section 30-1-15 is amended to read:
46 30-1-15. Solemnization of prohibited marriage -- Penalty.
47 [If any authorized person] Any person authorized under Section 30-1-6 to solemnize a
48 marriage who knowingly, with or without a license, solemnizes a marriage [such as is herein
49 prohibited, he shall be imprisoned in the state prison not exceeding three years, or fined not
50 exceeding $1,000, or be both so fined and imprisoned] prohibited by this chapter is guilty of a third
51 degree felony.