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HB 316: "An Act relating to marriage solemnization; and authorizing elected public officials in the state to solemnize marriages."

00 HOUSE BILL NO. 316 01 "An Act relating to marriage solemnization; and authorizing elected public officials in 02 the state to solemnize marriages." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04 * Section 1. AS 25.05.261(a) is amended to read: 05 (a) Marriages may be solemnized 06 (1) by a minister, priest, or rabbi of any church or congregation in the 07 state, or by a commissioned officer of the Salvation Army, or by the principal officer 08 or elder of recognized churches or congregations that traditionally do not have regular 09 ministers, priests, or rabbis, anywhere within the state; 10 (2) by a marriage commissioner or judicial officer of the state 11 anywhere within the jurisdiction of the commissioner or officer; [OR] 12 (3) before or in any religious organization or congregation according to 13 the established ritual or form commonly practiced in the organization or congregation; 14 or 15 (4) by an individual holding an elective public office in the state.

01 * Sec. 2. AS 25.05.281 is amended to read: 02 Sec. 25.05.281. Marriage solemnized by unauthorized person. After a 03 license has been obtained, a marriage solemnized before a person professing to be a 04 minister, priest, or rabbi of a church or congregation in the state, [OR] a judicial 05 officer, a [OR] marriage commissioner, or an individual holding an elective public 06 office in the state is valid regardless of a lack of power or authority in the person, if 07 the marriage is consummated with a belief on the part of the persons so married, or 08 either of them, that they have been lawfully joined in marriage.