HB-5469, As Passed House, May 19, 2004

SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 5469

                                                                             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                        

registration; 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:

1                                 TITLE                                         

2                                                                                An act establishing the minimum ages for contracting                               

3   marriages; to require a civil license in order to marry and its             

4   registration; to provide for the implementation of federal law;             

5   to prescribe certain programs relating to marriage; and to                  

6   provide a penalty for the violation of this act.                            

7   Sec. 12.  (1) If the parties to a marriage attend and                       

8   complete a premarital education program, the parties may claim              

9   the income tax credit provided in section 269 of the income tax             

1   act of 1967, 1967 PA 281, MCL 206.269.                                      

2       (2) A premarital education program shall meet all of the                    

3   following criteria:                                                         

4       (a) Have as its primary focus skill-building strategies for                 

5   strengthening or preserving marriage.                                       

6       (b) Include at least the following:                                         

7                                                                                (i) Conflict management.                                                            

8       (ii) Communication skills.                                                   

9       (iii) Financial matters.                                                     

10      (iv) If a couple has or intends to have children, child and                  

11  parenting responsibilities.                                                 

12      (c) Be at least 4 hours long and conducted by 1 or more of                  

13  the following:                                                              

14                                                                               (i) A professional counselor, a marriage and family                                 

15  therapist, or a full or limited licensed psychologist, licensed             

16  under article 15 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368,                    

17  MCL 333.16101 to 333.18838.                                                 

18      (ii) A social worker or certified social worker who was                      

19  granted a registration under section 18509 or 18511 of the public           

20  health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.18509 and 333.18511.                      

21      (iii) A psychiatrist as that term is defined in section 100c                 

22  of the mental health code, 1974 PA 258, MCL 330.1100c.                      

23      (iv) An official representative of a religious institution.

24      Enacting section 1.  This amendatory act does not take                      

25  effect unless House Bill No. 5468 of the 92nd Legislature is                

26  enacted into law.