Marriage: underage marriage.

Existing law requires the State Registrar to create a document, no later than March 1, 2020, with annual updates, containing information received by a local registrar concerning marriage certificates in which one or both of the parties were minors at the time of solemnization of the marriage. Existing law requires the local registrar, at least annually, to submit information, as specified, to the State Registrar for those purposes. Under existing law, a local registrar is not required to submit this information to the State Registrar if the local registrar did not receive a copy of the court order, as specified. This bill would remove that exception and require a local registrar to submit information to the State Registrar, as specified. By increasing the reporting requirements for local registrars, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require the State Registrar to create a report containing the number of marriage certificates that were submitted by a local registrar, as specified. This bill would require the State Registrar, on or before September 1, 2027, to publish the report on its internet website and submit the report to the Legislature. The bill would repeal this provision on January 1, 2028. This bill would also require the State Registrar, subject to an appropriation, to establish a grant program to study extralegal marriages, as defined. The bill would require a report completed through the grant program to address the prevalence of, conditions of, and circumstances surrounding extralegal marriages in the state, as specified. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.