PRINTER'S NO. 3388
No. 2343 Session of 2008
INTRODUCED BY COSTA, CALTAGIRONE, FRANKEL, COHEN, DALEY,
GOODMAN, JOSEPHS, MANN, K. SMITH, WALKO, KOTIK, BENNINGHOFF,
BOYD, CAPPELLI, CARROLL, CONKLIN, GEIST, HARKINS, HELM,
HENNESSEY, LONGIETTI, MYERS, M. O'BRIEN, PEIFER, PYLE, SEIP,
M. SMITH, STERN, J. WHITE AND WOJNAROSKI, MARCH 10, 2008
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 10, 2008
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, further providing for persons
3 qualified to solemnize marriages.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 1503 of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
8 § 1503. Persons qualified to solemnize marriages.
9 (a) General rule.--The following are authorized to solemnize
10 marriages between persons that produce a marriage license issued
11 under this part:
12 (1) A justice, judge or magisterial district judge of
13 this Commonwealth.
14 (2) A former or retired justice, judge or magisterial
15 district judge of this Commonwealth who is [serving as a
16 senior judge or senior magisterial district judge as provided
17 or prescribed by law] a resident of this Commonwealth.
1 (3) An active or senior judge or full-time magistrate of
2 the District Courts of the United States for the Eastern,
3 Middle or Western District of Pennsylvania.
4 (3.1) An active, retired or senior bankruptcy judge of
5 the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern, Middle
6 or Western District of Pennsylvania who is a resident of this
7 Commonwealth.
8 (4) An active, retired or senior judge of the United
9 States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit who is a
10 resident of this Commonwealth.
11 (5) A mayor of any city or borough of this Commonwealth.
12 (6) A minister, priest or rabbi of any regularly
13 established church or congregation.
14 (b) Religious organizations.--Every religious society,
15 religious institution or religious organization in this
16 Commonwealth may join persons together in marriage when at least
17 one of the persons is a member of the society, institution or
18 organization, according to the rules and customs of the society,
19 institution or organization.
20 (c) Marriage license needed to officiate.--No person or
21 religious organization qualified to perform marriages shall
22 officiate at a marriage ceremony without the parties having
23 obtained a marriage license issued under this part.
24 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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