An Act To Allow a Nonresident Notary Public or Justice of the Peace To Perfonn a Single Wedding Ceremony
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0138
Committee Amendment CA_A_H134 (House)
Amends: 19-A MRSA §655

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" H" to H.P. 120, L.D. 138, Bill, "An Act To Allow 
a Nonresident Notary Public or Justice of the Peace To Perfonn a Single Wedding 
Ceremony" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Allow a Nonresident To Perform a Single Marriage Ceremony' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 1 to 3 (page 1, lines 2 to 10 in L.D.) and 
inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 
19-A MRS A §654, as amended by PL 2001, c. 574, §5, is further 
amended to read: 
§654. Record of marriages 
1. Copy. Every person authorized to unite persons in marriage shall make and keep 
a record of every marriage solemnized by that person in confonnity with the fonns and 
instructions prescribed by the State Registrar of Vital Statistics pursuant to Title 22, 
section 2701. 
2. Return of marriage license. The person who solemnized the marriage shall 
return each original certificate the marriage license to the clerk who issued the certificate 
license within 7 working days following the date on which the marriage is solemnized by 
that person. The clerk and the State Registrar of Vital Statistics each shall retain a copy 
of the certificate license. 
3. Statement including officiant and witnesses. Each certificate and copy The 
marriage license returned must contain a statement giving the names of the parties united 
in marriage, place and date of the marriage, the signature of the person by whom the 
marriage was solemnized and the names of the 2 witnesses. The person who solemnized 
the marriage shall add the title of the office by virtue of which the marriage was 
solemnized, the residence of the person who solemnized the marriage and: 
A. 
The date ordained or authorized by a religious faith to perfonn marriages; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 120, L.D. 138 
B. 
The date the notary public's commission expires; Sf 
C. 
The date the lawyer was admitted to the Maine Bar7~ 
D. The date the person's temporary registration certificate was issued under section 
655, subsection I-A. 
4. Recorded by clerk. The clerk shall record all certificates or copies marriage 
licenses returned under this section.' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 6 and 7 (page I, lines 26 to 35 and page 
2, lines 1 to 11 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 6. 19-A MRSA §655, sub-§l, ,C is enacted to read: 
C. A nonresident of the State who has a temporary registration certificate issued by 
the Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics pursuant to subsection I-A. 
Sec. 7. 19-A MRSA §655, sub-§l-A is enacted to read: 
I-A. Temporary registration certificate. The Office of Data, Research and Vital 
Statistics may issue a temporary registration certificate to solemnize a marriage ceremony 
to an individual who is a resident of another state and who is authorized under the laws of 
that state to solenmize marriages. 
A. An individual seeking a temporary registration certificate under this subsection 
must submit to the Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics: 
(I) A copy of a valid commission or other indicia of authority to perform 
marriage ceremonies in the individual's state of residence as proof of existence of 
the authority; 
(2) A copy of the other state's statute that grants the individual authority to 
solenmize marriages in that state; 
(3) The names and residences of the 2 parties whose marriage the individual 
proposes to solenmize and the expected date of the marriage ceremony; and 
(4) A $100 registration fee. 
B. Upon finding that the individual has satisfied the requirements of paragraph A, 
the Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics shall issue to the individual a 
temporary registration certificate authorizing the individual to solenmize the marriage 
of the parties whose names were provided pursuant to paragraph A. subparagraph (3). 
The Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics may decline to issue a temporary 
registration certificate if complaints filed against the individual for actions in this 
State have been substantiated or for other good cause, even if the state in which the 
individual is authorized to solemnize marriages has not taken disciplinary action. 
C. A temporary registration certificate does not authorize the individual to solenmize 
any marriage other than the marriage of the parties provided pursuant to paragraph A, 
subparagraph (3). 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 120, L.D. 138 
D. 
A temporary registration certificate under this subsection expires upon the 
individual's signing the marriage license or 90 days after issuance, whichever occurs 
first. 
E. The Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics shall keep a permanent record of 
all temporary registration certificates issued under this subsection. The records must 
contain the name and residence of each individual to whom a temporary registration 
certificate is issued.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment updates language concerning marriage licenses. 
The amendment revises the bill to allow the Department of Health and Human 
Services, Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics to issue a temporary registration 
certificate to solemnize a marriage to an individual who is a nonresident of this State and 
who is authorized to solemnize marriages in the individual's state of residence. The 
individual must apply for the temporary registration certificate by providing evidence of 
that authority, such as a copy of a commission certificate, as well as a copy of the statute 
that provides the authority. The temporary registration certificate expires 90 days after 
issuance or upon the individual's signing the marriage license, whichever occurs first. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/29111 
~ac.. 
LD 138 
LR 37(02) 
An Act To Allow a Nonresident Notary Public or Justice of the Peace To Perform a Single Wedding 
Ceremony 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,p" 
Committee: Judiciary 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Minor revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Additional costs incurred and additional revenue received by the Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics in the 
Department of Health and Human Services cannot be determined at this time but is not expected to be significant. 
LR0037(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1