63M-15 - Utah Marriage Commission

Title 63M > 63M-15

Sections (8)

General Provisions

63M-15-101 - Title.

This chapter is known as the “Utah Marriage Commission.”

63M-15-102 - Definitions.

As used in this chapter: 63M-15-102(1) “Commission” means the Utah Marriage Commission created by this chapter. 63M-15-102(2) “Commission leadership” means the commission’s elected chair, elected vice chair, and coordinator. 63M-15-102(3) “Coordinator” means an employee from Utah State University described in Section 63M-15-206.

Commission

63M-15-201 - Composition — Appointments — Terms — Removal.

63M-15-201(1) There is created within the governor’s office the Utah Marriage Commission. 63M-15-201(2) The governor, or commission leadership under Section 63M-15-202, shall appoint up to 28 commission members that:may come from the following groups:non-profit organizations or governmental agencies;social workers who are, or have been, licensed under Title 58, Chapter 60, Part 2, Social Worker Licensing Act;psychologists who are, or have been, licensed under Title 58, Chapter 61, Psychologist Licensing Act;physicians who are, or have been, board certified in psychiatry and are, or have been, licensed under Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act, or Title 58, Chapter 68, Utah Osteopathic Medical Practice Act;marriage and family therapists who are, or have been, licensed under Title 58, Chapter 60, Part 3, Marriage and Family Therapist Licensing Act;representatives of faith communities;public health professionals;representatives of domestic violence prevention organizations;academics from marriage and family studies departments, social or behavioral sciences departments, health sciences departments, colleges of law, or other related and supporting departments at institutions of higher education in this state;the general public;individuals with marketing or public relations experience; andlegal professionals; orhave skills or expertise the commission requires to fulfill the commission’s duties described in Section 63M-15-204. 63M-15-201(3) An individual appointed under Subsection (2) shall serve for a term of four years.If approved by the commission, an individual may be appointed for subsequent terms.When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall be appointed by the applicable appointing authority for the remainder of the unexpired term of the original appointment.Upon majority vote within commission leadership, commission leadership may remove a member of the commission if the member is unable to serve.Commission leadership may appoint as many non-voting members as necessary if the individuals appointed have skills or expertise related to the commission’s duties, described in Section 63M-15-204.

63M-15-202 - Appointee replacement.

If a member appointed under Subsection 63M-15-201(2)(c) resigns from the commission, is removed from the commission under Subsection 63M-15-201(3)(d) , or the member’s term expires, the governor or commission leadership shall appoint a replacement member within 90 days after the day on which the governor receives notice of the member’s resignation, removal, or term expiration.

63M-15-203 - Commission meetings.

63M-15-203(1) The commission shall annually elect a chair and vice chair from the commission’s membership. 63M-15-203(2) The commission shall hold meetings as needed to fulfill the commission’s duties. 63M-15-203(3) A meeting may be held on the call of the chair or a majority of the commission members. 63M-15-203(4) A majority of the voting members of the commission constitute a quorum and, if a quorum exists, the action of a majority of commission members present constitutes the action of the commission.

63M-15-204 - Commission duties.

The commission shall: 63M-15-204(1) promote coalitions and collaborative efforts to uphold and encourage a strong and healthy culture of strong and lasting marriages and stable families; 63M-15-204(2) contribute to greater awareness of the importance of marriage in an effort to reduce divorce and unwed parenthood in the state; 63M-15-204(3) promote public policies that support marriage; 63M-15-204(4) promote programs and activities that educate individuals and couples on how to achieve strong, successful, and lasting marriages, including promoting and assisting in the offering of:events;classes and services, including those designed to promote strong, healthy, and lasting marriages and prevent domestic violence;marriage and relationship education conferences for the public and professionals; andenrichment seminars; 63M-15-204(5) actively promote measures designed to maintain and strengthen marriage, family, and the relationships between spouses and parents and children; 63M-15-204(6) support volunteerism and private financial contributions and grants in partnership with the commission and in support of the commission’s purposes and activities for the benefit of the state as provided in this section; 63M-15-204(7) regularly publicize information on premarital counseling and education services available in the state that comply with Section 81-2-206; 63M-15-204(8) approve an online course meeting the requirements of Section 81-2-206; and 63M-15-204(9) for purposes of Section 81-2-206, recognize one or more national organizations that certify family life educators.

63M-15-205 - Member pay — Reimbursement.

63M-15-205(1) A commission member who is not a legislator may not receive compensation or benefits for the commission member’s service, but may receive per diem and travel expenses as allowed in:

Section 63A-3-106; Section 63A-3-107; and rules made by the Division of Finance in accordance with Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107. 63M-15-205(2) Compensation and expenses of a commission member who is a legislator are governed by Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rules, Title 5, Legislative Compensation and Expenses.

63M-15-206 - Oversight — Staff support — Funding.

63M-15-206(1) Utah State University shall:working in consultation with the commission, hire a coordinator to manage the day-to-day operations of the commission;pay the salary of the coordinator and review the coordinator’s performance;provide other staff support for the commission; andprovide office space, furnishings, and supplies to the commission, the coordinator, and support staff. 63M-15-206(2) Funding for the commission shall be dedicated credits from the $20 marriage license fee described in Section 17-66-303 and added funding sought by the commission from private contributions and grants that support the duties of the commission described in Section 63M-15-204. 63M-15-206(3) Before November 1, 2024, and before November 1 of each third year after 2024, the commission shall provide a written report to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee regarding the commission’s:initiatives and whether the initiatives could be accomplished by a private organization; andfunding sources, including the effectiveness and necessity of the marriage license fee, described in Section 17-66-303, in providing commission funding.