Necks thing ewe noe, thail outlaw marrininn animals.....
State marriage age to be raised House, Senate pass 16 as new minimum; Riley expected to sign 06/12/03 KIM CHANDLER News staff writer MONTGOMERY The Alabama Senate gave final approval Wednesday to a bill raising the minimum age from 14 to 16 for children to get married with parental permission. Senators approved the bill 30-0 sending it to Gov. Bob Riley for his signature. Riley's Press Secretary David Azbell said the governor would sign it. The House had approved the bill 99-0 in April. "I don't think a 14-year-old or 15-year-old is capable of entering into marriage. To me that is too young," Rep. Laura Hall, the bill's sponsor said. "It's difficult enough when you're 23." The increase to age 16 will bring Alabama in line with most other Southern states. The age for getting married without parental permission remains 18. Alabama had 37 brides who were 14 in 2001, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health's Center for Health Statistics. That included three 14-year-old girls who married men in their early 30s. In 1999, the state had 63 brides that were 14 and 186 brides and six grooms who were 15. Hall said Alabama was having a problem with children and their families coming in from other states to get married because Alabama's minimum age was so young. The Alabama Probate Judges Association, whose members issue marriage licenses, endorsed the change during legislative committee meetings. The law that allowed 14- and 15-year-olds to marry was enacted in the 1800s, a time when early marriage was not unusual, Hall said. "It's something that was an antiquated state law," said Sen. Charles Steele, D-Tuscaloosa. ______________________________________________________ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List "Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup!" To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
