H. B. 4492
(By Delegates Harrison and Armstead)
[Introduced February 14, 2002; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.]
A BILL to amend article one, chapter fifty-nine of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by
adding thereto a new section, designated section ten-a,
relating to establishing a marriage license discount if the
applicants show proof of a certificate of completion by an
approved premarital preparation course.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article one, chapter fifty-nine of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be
amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section ten-a,
to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1. FEES AND ALLOWANCES.
§
59-1-10a. Marriage license discount.
(a) A county shall discount a marriage license fee under
section ten of this article if the couple to be married has
completed, within one year before the date of the application for
the license, a premarital preparation course that meets the
following requirements specified in this section.
(b) A premarital preparation course shall include instruction
regarding: (1) Conflict management; (2) communication skills; (3)
financial responsibilities; (4) children and parenting
responsibilities; and (5) consisting of at least four hours of
instruction.
(c) A premarital course may be conducted by: (1) A clinical
professional counselor or a clinical marriage and family therapist;
(2) a psychologist; (3) a social worker; (4) an official
representative of a religious institution; or (5) any other
qualified provider approved by the county commission.
(d) A premarital preparation course provider shall register
with the clerk of the county commission by filing a written
affidavit containing: (1) The provider's name, address and
telephone number; (2) a summary of the provider's qualifications
and training; and (3) a statement that the provider shall comply
with the course requirements specified in this section.
(e) A premarital preparation course provider shall provide to
each couple who completes the course a certificate of completion
that specifies: (1) The names of the couple; (2) the name of the
provider; and (3) the date of completion of the course.
(f) To receive a discounted marriage license fee under this
section, an applicant for a license shall verify completion of a
premarital preparation course by presenting to the clerk of the
county commission a valid certificate of course completion issued
in accordance with subsection (e) of this section.
(g) Any cost for a premarital preparation course shall be paid
by the applicant for a marriage.
(h) The clerk of the county commission may establish a roster
of area premarital preparation course providers, including those
who offer the course for a fee or for free.
(i) The amount of any discount shall be one half of the
regular marriage license fee.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish a marriage
license discount for applicants who complete an approved premarital
preparation course.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.