ALERT

OPPOSE SB 696 and HB 873
Marriage License Requirements
SB 696 (Brown-Waite) and HB 873 (Davis)

***Passage would prevent persons from marrying in Florida even if one is a citizen and the other has valid identification, but does not have two specific documents.***

Background:   The family is the central social institution that must be supported and strengthened.  The proposed change to Florida’s law on marriage licenses contained in SB 696 and HB 873 does the opposite.  It would prevent thousands of couples in Florida from obtaining a marriage license, thus undermining families. Currently couples applying for a marriage license must present identification.  If one of the persons is not a citizen of the United States, they may provide either a social security number or an alien registration number.  If a social security number or alien registration number has not been issued, any form of identification may be presented. This proposed legislation would prevent a person who is a citizen from marrying a person who is not a citizen without the required documentation.  Many persons in Florida are in the process of becoming citizens and do not have the specified documents.  They want to “do the right thing” and be married legally.  If this bill passes, these couples will be prevented from getting married and more children will be born out of wedlock in Florida.  This bill is anti-marriage and anti-family.

Action:   SB 696 will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, February 19, 2002 at 9:00 a.m. If your State Senator is a member of this committee, please contact them and ask them to vote NO on SB 696.

Senate Judiciary Committee:

Dist. 16    Senator Locke Burt          (850) 487-5033      burt.locke.web@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 14    Senator Buddy Dyer        (850) 487-5190       Dyer.buddy.web@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 39    Senator Rudy Garcia       (850) 487-5106       garcia.rudy.web@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 1      Senator Durell Peaden     (850) 487-5000       peaden.jurrell.web@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 20    Senator Jim Sebesta         (850) 487-5075       sebesta.jim.web@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 37    Senator Alex Villalobos    (850) 487-5130       villalobos.alex.web@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 12    Senator Daniel Webster   (850) 487-5047       webster.daniel.web@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 6      Senator Stephen Wise      (850) 487-5027       wise.stephen.web@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 33    Senator Skip Campbell     (850) 487-5094       campbell.walter.web@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 40    Senator Daryl Jones         (850) 487-5127        jones.daryl.web@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 38    Senator Ronald Silver       (850) 487-5121       silver.ronald.web@leg.state.fl.us

Action: HB 873 will be heard by the House Judicial Oversight Committee at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 21, 2002.  If your State Representative is a member of this committee, please contact them and ask them to vote NO on HB 873.

House Judicial Oversight Committee:

Dist.  49      Rep. Larry Crow                   (850)488-9240       crow.larry@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 74       Rep. Jeffrey D. Kottkamp    (850)488-7433       kottkamp.jeff@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 43       Rep. Nancy Argenziano        (850)488-0805       argenziano.nancy@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 6         Rep. Allan G. Bense             (850)488-9696       bense.allan@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 106     Rep. Dan Gelber                   (850)488-0690       gelber.dan@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 76       Rep. J. Dudley Goodlette     (850)488-4487       goodlette.dudley@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 21       Rep. Joe H. Pickens             (850)488-0665        pickens.joe@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 63       Rep. Dennis A. Ross            (850)488-9890        ross.dennis@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 99       Rep. Tim Ryan                     (850)488-0245        ryan.tim@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 92       Rep. Jack Seiler                   (850)488-0880        seiler.jack@leg.state.fl.us
Dist. 93      Rep. Christopher Smith         (850)488-1084        smith.chris@leg.state.fl.us

  Thank you!