h_phc_2016a_2016-05-06t11:24:09z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 05/06/2016

12:48 PM -- SB 16-150



Representative Esgar, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 16-150 to the committee. The bill amends state law concerning civil unions and marriage to do the following:

• allow persons in a valid current civil union to marry each other without having to first dissolve the civil union;
• specify that the Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act applies to civil unions that are merged into marriage by operation of law;
• specify that time spent in a civil union prior to it being converted to marriage is included when determining the duration of such a marriage during dissolution proceedings;
• apply state bigamy laws to persons currently in a civil union who enter into marriage with someone other than the civil union partner or persons who enter into another civil union; and
• require the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to update the marriage application form to capture certain information about any prior civil unions entered into or merged into marriage.
  
  

Representative Esgar distributed a handout to the committee about the bill (Attachment C).



160506 AttachC.pdf



12:50 PM -- Steve Lass, Colorado Bar Association, testified in support of the bill.

12:53 PM



Representative Esgar gave concluding remarks on the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

12:59 PM



The committee adjourned.