MARRIAGE; MODIFY AGE OF CONSENT                                                                                         S.B. 209-217 & 246:

                                                                                                                                                                SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL

                                                                                                                                                                                                                IN COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 209 through 217 (as introduced 3-16-23)

Senate Bill 246 (as introduced 3-23-23)

Sponsor:   Senator Sarah E. Anthony (S.B. 209, S.B. 210, S.B. 217)

                            Senator Sylvia Santana (S.B. 211)

                            Senator Veronica Klinefelt (S.B. 212)

                            Senator Rosemary Bayer (S.B. 213)

                            Senator Ruth Johnson (S.B. 214)

                            Senator Mark E. Huizenga (S.B. 215)

                            Senator Erika Geiss (S.B. 216)

                            Senator Roger Victory (S.B. 246)

Committee:   Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety

Date Completed:   5-16-23

INTRODUCTION

Taken together, the bills would increase, from 16 to 18 years old, the minimum age at which an individual could get married in Michigan. They would prohibit a minor   s parent or legal guardian from providing consent for the minor   s marriage. They also would modify various penalties under the Penal Code related to spouses under the age of 16.

PREVIOUS LEGISLATION

(Please note: This section does not provide a comprehensive account of all previous legislative efforts on the relevant subject matter.)

Senate Bills 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, and 246 are reintroductions of Senate Bills 1114, 1115, 1116, 1118, 1119, 1120, 1121, 1122 and 1117, respectively, of the 2021-2022 Legislative Session. Senate Bill 217 is similar to Senate Bill 1123 of the 2021-2022 Legislative Session. Senate Bills 1114-1123 were reported from the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety but received no further action.

FISCAL IMPACT

Senate Bill 209 through Senate Bill 211, and Senate Bill 246 would not have a fiscal impact on State government. There could be some positive fiscal impact on county clerks or probate judges in the form of reduced costs, as the bills would eliminate procedures by which minors 16 or older may acquire a marriage license with parental consent in written form. Senate Bills 213 through Senate Bill 217 would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

There would likely be long-term, indirect benefits to the State in the form of income tax. Research has shown that girls who marry before 18 years old are less likely to engage in higher education and more likely to fall into poverty. Related costs to the State could include mental health and public assistance costs, increased social services costs, and court proceeding costs as child marriage correlates to higher rates of divorce and domestic violence.

MCL 555.51 (S.B. 209)                                                                                   Legislative Analyst:   Tyler P. VanHuyse

            551.103 (S.B. 210); 551.201 (S.B. 211)