Text of MD SB 116 (2011)

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. *sb0116* SENATE BILL 116 D4 1lr0387 SB 582/10 – JPR By: Senators Garagiola, Madaleno, Raskin, Ferguson, Forehand, Frosh, Gladden, Jones–Rodwell, Kelley, King, Manno, McFadden, Montgomery, Pinsky, Pugh, Ramirez, Young, and Zirkin Introduced and read first time: January 21, 2011 Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning 1 Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act 2 FOR the purpose of altering a provision of law establishing that only certain 3 marriages are valid in this State; prohibiting certain officials from being 4 required to solemnize a marriage in violation of a certain constitutional right; 5 providing for the construction of a certain provision of this Act; and generally 6 relating to valid marriages. 7 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8 Article – Family Law 9 Section 2–201 10 Annotated Code of Maryland 11 (2006 Replacement Volume and 2010 Supplement) 12 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 13 MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14 Article – Family Law 15 2–201. 16 (A) THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO INVALIDATE ANY OTHER 17 PROVISION OF THIS TITLE. 18 (B) Only a marriage between [a man and a woman] TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO 19 ARE NOT OTHERWISE PROHIBITED FROM MARRYING is valid in this State. 20 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That an official of a religious 21 institution or body authorized to solemnize marriages may not be required to 22 2 SENATE BILL 116 solemnize any marriage in violation of the right to free exercise of religion guaranteed 1 by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and by the Maryland 2 Constitution and Maryland Declaration of Rights. 3 SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 4 October 1, 2011. 5