DELAWARE STATE SENATE

150th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 251

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 20 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC PROTECTIONS DURING THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY AND MARRIAGE LICENSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Chapter 31, Title 20 of the Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

Subchapter VI. Continuation of Certain Orders Issued During the COVID-19 State of Emergency.

§ 3157. Marriage Licenses.

The provisions of Paragraph B.1. of the Twelfth Modification of the State of Emergency Declaration, dated April 23, 2020, shall continue in full force and effect until June 30, 2021.

Section 2. If any provision of this Act or the application of this Act to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the provis1ions of this Act are severable if the invalidity does not affect the other provisions of this Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or the application of this Act that can be given effect without the invalid application.

SYNOPSIS

This Act ensures that the protections put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic related to marriage licenses do not cease immediately upon the lifting of the COVID-19 State of Emergency, but instead continue until June 30, 2021.

This Act authorizes parties applying for a marriage license to appear together before an issuing officer via video-conference call and authorizes the issuing officer to witness the parties’ signatures on the marriage license application by video-conference call.

This Act ensures that the General Assembly will have another opportunity to express its will on continuing this protection by including an internal sunset date.

Author: Senator Sturgeon