Text of NC SB 13 (2007)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2007 S 1 SENATE BILL 13 Short Title: Defense of Marriage. (Public) Sponsors: Senators Forrester, Smith; Allran, Apodaca, Berger of Rockingham, Bingham, Brock, Brown, Brunstetter, East, Goodall, Hartsell, Hunt, Jacumin, Pittenger, Preston, Snow, and Tillman. Referred to: Ways and Means. February 12, 2007 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1 AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION TO PROVIDE THAT MARRIAGE IS 2 THE UNION OF ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN AT ONE TIME, AND THIS IS 3 THE ONLY MARRIAGE THAT IS RECOGNIZED AS VALID IN THIS STATE. 4 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5 SECTION 1. Article 14 of the North Carolina Constitution is amended by 6 adding the following new section: 7 "Sec. 6. Marriage. 8 Marriage is the union of one man and one woman at one time. This is the only 9 marriage that shall be recognized as valid in this State. The uniting of two persons of the 10 same sex or the uniting of more than two persons of any sex in a marriage, civil union, 11 domestic partnership, or other similar relationship within or outside of this State shall 12 not be valid or recognized in this State. This Constitution shall not be construed to 13 require that marital status or the rights, privileges, benefits, or other legal incidents of 14 marriage be conferred upon unmarried individuals or groups." 15 SECTION 2. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be 16 submitted to the qualified voters of the State at an election on November 6, 2007, which 17 election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. Ballots, 18 voting systems, or both may be used in accordance with Chapter 163 of the General 19 Statutes. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be: 20 "[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 21 Constitutional amendment to provide that marriage is the union of one man 22 and one woman at one time, and this is the only marriage that shall be recognized as 23 valid in this State." 24 SECTION 3. If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the 25 amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, the State Board of Elections shall certify the 26 General Assembly of North Carolina Session 2007 Page 2 Senate Bill 13-First Edition amendment to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall enroll the amendment 1 so certified among the permanent records of that office. 2 SECTION 4. The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act becomes 3 effective January 1, 2008. 4