House File 142 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 142 BY FRY A BILL FOR An Act relating to a reduction in the application fee for a 1 license to marry based upon the completion of premarital 2 counseling. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1922YH (2) 86 pf/nh

H.F. 142 Section 1. Section 331.605, subsection 1, paragraph g, Code 1 2015, is amended to read as follows: 2 g. (1) For Except as provided in subparagraph (2), for 3 filing an application for the license to marry, thirty-five 4 dollars, which includes payment for one certified copy of the 5 original certificate of marriage, to be issued following filing 6 of the original certificate of marriage, four dollars of which 7 shall be retained by the county pursuant to paragraph “f” . 8 (2) For filing an application for a license to marry, five 9 dollars, if the applicants submit and the county registrar 10 approves the certificate of completion of premarital counseling 11 pursuant to section 595.3B, which includes payment for one 12 certified copy of the original certificate of marriage, to 13 be issued following filing of the original certificate of 14 marriage, four dollars of which shall be retained by the county 15 pursuant to paragraph “f” . 16 (3) For issuing an application for an order of the district 17 court authorizing the validation of a license to marry before 18 the expiration of three days from the date of issuance of the 19 license, five dollars. The district court shall authorize the 20 early validation of a marriage license without the payment 21 of any fees imposed in this paragraph upon showing that the 22 applicant is unable to pay the fees. 23 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 595.3B Application —— premarital 24 counseling. 25 1. An application form for a marriage license shall have 26 attached a certificate form to be used by the parties to 27 document completion of premarital counseling by the parties. 28 The certificate shall be completed by the parties and signed 29 by the person who provided the premarital counseling. The 30 certificate shall require provision of all of the following 31 information: 32 a. The name of the person providing the premarital 33 counseling and the person’s signature verifying completion of 34 the premarital counseling by the parties. 35 -1- LSB 1922YH (2) 86 pf/nh 1/ 3

H.F. 142 b. The number of hours of premarital counseling completed. 1 c. Whether the premarital counseling was provided through 2 individual instruction or a premarital course, and whether the 3 counseling was provided in-person, via electronic media, or 4 through a combination of these methods. 5 2. Only premarital counseling provided by the following 6 persons meets the requirement of provision of premarital 7 counseling under this section: 8 a. A person ordained or designated as a leader of a party’s 9 religious faith or the person’s designee. 10 b. A person licensed to practice psychology pursuant to 11 chapter 154B or licensed to practice psychology in any other 12 state. 13 c. A person licensed to practice social work pursuant to 14 chapter 154C or licensed to practice social work in any other 15 state. 16 d. A person licensed to practice marital and family therapy 17 pursuant to chapter 154D or licensed to practice marital and 18 family therapy in any other state. 19 3. If the parties applying for a license to marry complete 20 the premarital counseling certificate and the certificate is 21 approved, the parties shall pay the license fee of five dollars 22 pursuant to section 331.605. 23 EXPLANATION 24 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 25 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 26 This bill relates to marriage license conditions and fees. 27 The bill reduces the marriage license fee for parties who have 28 completed premarital counseling from $35 to $5. 29 The bill provides that the application form for a marriage 30 license is to have attached a certificate form to be used by 31 the parties to document completion of premarital counseling. 32 The certificate is to be completed by the parties and signed by 33 the person who provided the premarital counseling. The bill 34 specifies the information to be included on the certificate 35 -2- LSB 1922YH (2) 86 pf/nh 2/ 3

H.F. 142 and specifies the persons who meet the requirements to provide 1 premarital education. 2 -3- LSB 1922YH (2) 86 pf/nh 3/ 3