February 5, 2004, Introduced by Reps. Hager, Hoogendyk, Acciavatti, Brandenburg, Stahl, Stewart, Nitz, Spade, Voorhees, Hummel, Kooiman, DeRossett, Taub, Vander Veen and Sheen and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
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 qualifying marriage preservation program, the parties
9 may claim the income tax credit provided in section 269 of the
1 income tax act of 1967, 1967 PA 281, MCL 206.269.
2 (2) A qualifying marriage preservation program must meet all
3 of the following criteria:
4 (a) Be designed as either a premarital education or
5 counseling program or a relationship education or counseling
6 program for a married couple that has as its primary focus
7 skill-building strategies for strengthening or preserving
8 marriage.
9 (b) Include at least the following:
10 (i) Conflict management.
11 (ii) Communication skills.
12 (iii) Financial matters.
13 (iv) If a couple has or intends to have children, child and
14 parenting responsibilities.
15 (c) Be at least 4 hours long and conducted by 1 or more of
16 the following:
17 (i) A professional counselor, a marriage and family
18 therapist, or a full or limited licensed psychologist, licensed
19 under article 15 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368,
20 MCL 333.16101 to 333.18838.
21 (ii) A social worker or certified social worker who was
22 granted a registration under section 18509 or 18511 of the public
23 health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.18509 and 333.18511.
24 (iii) A psychiatrist as that term is defined in section 100c
25 of the mental health code, 1974 PA 258, MCL 330.1100c.
26 (iv) An official representative of a religious institution or
27 his or her designee.
1 Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not take
2 effect unless Senate Bill No. _____ or House Bill No. 5468
3 (request no. 00020'03) of the 92nd Legislature is enacted into
4 law.