as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/12/2014 11:28am
A bill for an act
relating to civil law; authorizing marriage solemnization by atheist and humanist
celebrants; amending Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, sections 517.05;
517.18, by adding a subdivision.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 517.05, is amended to read:
Ministers of any religious denomination,new text begin or any other celebrant identified in section
517.18,new text end before they are authorized to solemnize a civil marriage, shall file a copy of their
credentials of license or ordination or, if their new text begin organization or new text end religious denomination
does not issue credentials, authority fromnew text begin their governing board ornew text end the minister's spiritual
assembly, with the local registrar of a county in this state, who shall record the same
and give a certificate of filing thereof. The place where the credentials are recorded
shall be endorsed upon and recorded with each certificate of civil marriage granted by
a ministernew text begin or celebrantnew text end .
Minnesota Statutes 2013 Supplement, section 517.18, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
new text begin
Civil marriages may be solemnized by atheist or
humanist celebrants who have been appointed by the boards of directors of self-identified
atheist or humanist organizations that sponsor training for such individuals. An atheist
or humanist group appointing such celebrant must be registered as a nonprofit with
the Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State and must have tax-exempt status as an
educational organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
new text end