04/19/2022 01:30 PM Senate HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES

        HB  62-MARRIAGE: WITNESSES/SOLEMNIZATION/CONSENT                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
1:36:05 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON  announced the  consideration of  CS FOR  HOUSE BILL                                                               
NO. 62(JUD)  am "An Act  relating to the Legislative  Ethics Act;                                                               
relating to  solemnization of marriage;  and relating  to consent                                                               
to marriage."                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
He stated  that the  intent was to  adopt a  committee substitute                                                               
and hold the bill for future consideration.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:36:30 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:36:50 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting and solicited a motion.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
1:36:55 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR COSTELLO  moved to adopt the  Senate Committee Substitute                                                               
(SCS)  for  HB  62,  work   order  32-LS0272\I,  as  the  working                                                               
document, and objected for purposes of discussion.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:37:13 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  WILSON explained  that the  SCS adds  two restrictions  on                                                               
unemancipated  people   ages  16  and  17.   He  described  these                                                               
restrictions as follow:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
     First,  it adds  parental  consent and  they must  also                                                                    
     receive  approval  from  a  superior  court  judge  who                                                                    
     determines  the   marriage  is  in  the   minor's  best                                                                    
     interest.  Second, the  minor cannot  marry someone  if                                                                    
     they're  more than  three years  older. For  example, a                                                                    
     16-year-old can  only marry up  to a 19-year-old  and a                                                                    
     17-year-old can marry up to a 20-year-old.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
He   noted  the   Legislative   Legal   Services  opinion   about                                                               
unemancipated minors.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:38:40 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BEGICH  offered his understanding  that under  version I,                                                               
an emancipated youth would not be restricted to marry.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON answered that is correct.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:38:58 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HUGHES joined the committee.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BEGICH said he appreciated  the clarification, because he                                                               
wanted  to ensure  that  the rights  of  emancipated youths  were                                                               
protected.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:39:28 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:39:54 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON reconvened the meeting.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:39:56 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  COSTELLO  stated that  emancipated  youths  are able  to                                                               
enter into contracts  and thus are able get  married. As written,                                                               
the SCS  doesn't change  what is currently  allowed, and  that is                                                               
one  reason  she is  opposed  to  the  SCS.  She said  the  legal                                                               
memorandum dated  April 18,  2022 also mentions  that the  SCS is                                                               
unnecessary because those minors  are already permitted to marry.                                                               
There are only certain things,  such as using alcoholic beverages                                                               
that an emancipated youth is not  able to do. She reiterated that                                                               
adding the exception for emancipated youth was unnecessary.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR COSTELLO  stated that she  was maintaining  her objection                                                               
to adopting the SCS.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
1:40:59 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR REINBOLD asked  how this version would  affect a 17-year-                                                               
old's ability to marry even if she was not emancipated.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WILSON stated that under  version I, a 17-year-old would be                                                               
able  to marry  if they  had  parental consent,  approval from  a                                                               
superior court  judge, and the spouse  was not more than  3 years                                                               
older.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  WILSON extended  the amendment  deadline until  Monday the                                                               
25th.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:42:40 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON  asked for  a roll  call vote  on adopting  the SCS,                                                               
version I.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:42:51 PM                                                                                                                    
A roll  call vote was  taken. Senators Begich, Hughes  and Wilson                                                               
voted in  favor of the  motion to adopt  SCS CSHB 62,  work order                                                               
32-LS0272\I,  and Senators  Costello and  Reinbold voted  against                                                               
it.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Therefore, the motion to adopt the SCS  for HB 62 passed on a 3:2                                                               
vote.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
1:43:06 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON  announced that the  SCS for  HB 62, version  I, was                                                               
adopted as the working document on a 3:2 vote.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:43:16 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR WILSON held HB 62 in committee.