Title: An act relating to including supreme court and court of appeals commissioners to solemnize marriages.

Brief Description: Including supreme court and court of appeals commissioners to solemnize marriages.

Sponsors: Senators Marr, Kline and McCaslin; by request of Court Of Appeals.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Judiciary: 1/17/07 [DP].

Passed Senate: 2/28/07, 44-3.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kline, Chair; Tom, Vice Chair; McCaslin, Ranking Minority Member; Carrell, Hargrove, Murray, Roach and Weinstein.

Staff: Dawn Noel (786-7472)

Background: Under current law, the following officers and persons, active or retired, are authorized to solemnize marriages: justices of the supreme court, judges of the court of appeals, judges of the superior courts, superior court commissioners, any regularly licensed or ordained minister or priest of any church or religious denomination, and judges of courts of limited jurisdiction, such as district and municipal courts.

Summary of Bill: Supreme court commissioners and court of appeals commissioners are also authorized to solemnize marriages.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This bill would authorize approximately eight additional Court of Appeals and Supreme Court Commissioner positions to conduct marriage ceremonies, such as for family and friends. The law specifying the authority to solemnize marriages would then include all levels of judicial administrators. The Court of Appeals and the Board for Judicial Administration support the change in statute.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Marr, prime sponsor; Jim Verellen, Commissioner, Washington State Court of Appeals, Division I.