S 0301 General Bill, By Fair, Grooms and Wilson
Summary: Covenant Marriage Act, Domestic Relations, serologic tests for communicable diseases, Medical; Divorce
    A BILL TO AMEND TITLE 20, CHAPTER 1, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO MARRIAGE BY ADDING ARTICLE 4, SO AS TO ENACT THE SOUTH CAROLINA COVENANT MARRIAGE ACT BY AUTHORIZING COUPLES TO ENTER INTO COVENANT MARRIAGES AND PROVIDING FOR COVENANT MARRIAGE DECLARATIONS ON MARRIAGE LICENSES, PROVIDING PREREQUISITES TO ENTERING INTO A COVENANT MARRIAGE, INCLUDING COUNSELING, AUTHORIZING A COVENANT MARRIAGE DECLARATION BY THOSE ALREADY MARRIED, AND REQUIRING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PUBLISH A COVENANT MARRIAGE PAMPHLET; TO ADD SECTION 20-1-225 SO AS TO REQUIRE COVENANT MARRIAGE LICENSE APPLICANTS TO PRESENT CERTIFICATES STATING THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN A STANDARD SEROLOGIC TEST FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES, TO REQUIRE THE CERTIFICATE TO BE FILED WITH THE PROBATE COURT, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES; TO AMEND SECTIONS 20-1-220 AND 20-1-230, BOTH AS AMENDED, 20-1-310, AND 20-1-340, ALL RELATING TO THE APPLICATION, ISSUANCE, AND FILING OF MARRIAGE LICENSES, SO AS TO APPLY THESE PROCEDURES TO LICENSES FOR COVENANT MARRIAGES AND TO REQUIRE A THIRTY DAY WAITING PERIOD BEFORE ISSUANCE OF A COVENANT MARRIAGE LICENSE; TO AMEND SECTION 20-1-240 RELATING TO DISTRIBUTION OF FAMILY PLANNING INFORMATION TO MARRIAGE LICENSE APPLICANTS, SO AS TO ALSO REQUIRE THE DISTRIBUTION OF COVENANT MARRIAGE PAMPHLETS AND TO REQUIRE APPLICANTS TO SIGN A STATEMENT THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED THIS PAMPHLET; AND TO AMEND SECTION 20-3-10 RELATING TO GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT IN A COVENANT MARRIAGE THE GROUND FOR DIVORCE OF CONTINUOUS SEPARATION IS FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST TWO YEARS.
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12/16/98	Senate	Prefiled
12/16/98	Senate	Referred to Committee on Judiciary
01/12/99	Senate	Introduced and read first time SJ-116
01/12/99	Senate	Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-116
02/09/00	Senate	Committee report: Favorable with amendment Judiciary SJ-7