Text of NC S 272 (2009)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2009 S 1 SENATE BILL 272 Short Title: Defense of Marriage. (Public) Sponsors: Senators Forrester, Jacumin; Allran, Apodaca, Berger of Rockingham, Bingham, Blake, Brock, Brown, Brunstetter, Clary, Davis, Goodall, Hoyle, Hunt, Jones, Preston, Rouzer, Rucho, Shaw, Snow, and Tillman. Referred to: Ways & Means. February 24, 2009 *S272-v-1* A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE MARRIAGE BETWEEN A 2 MAN AND A WOMAN IS THE ONLY DOMESTIC LEGAL UNION THAT SHALL BE 3 VALID OR RECOGNIZED IN THIS STATE. 4 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5 SECTION 1. Article 14 of the North Carolina Constitution is amended by adding 6 the following new section: 7 "Sec. 6. Marriage. 8 Marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid 9 or recognized in this State." 10 SECTION 2. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be submitted to 11 the qualified voters of the State at an election on November 3, 2009, which election shall be 12 conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. Ballots, voting systems, or both 13 may be used in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. The question to be used in 14 the voting systems and ballots shall be: 15 "[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 16 Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage between a man and a woman is 17 the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State." 18 SECTION 3. If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the 19 amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the State Board of Elections shall certify the 20 amendment to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment so 21 certified among the permanent records of that office. 22 SECTION 4. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act becomes effective 23 January 1, 2010. 24