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• Introduced by Sen. Michelle McManus (R) on February 5, 2004, to exempt certain religious practitioners from the licensure requirements that apply to professional marriage and family therapists and counselors. Under current law, clergy employed by a tax-exempt church are already exempt. The bill would extend this to an ordained cleric or other religious practitioner who has been authorized by law to officiate at a marriage, and who meets certain specified experience requirements. The bill is part of a legislative package comprised of Senate Bills 959 to 966. House Bills 5467 to 5474 are the same bills.
  • Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 5, 2004.
    • Reported in the Senate on September 23, 2004, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the Senate on September 28, 2004, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that only contains provisions allowing clerics to issue unpaid marriage or family guidance service or advice public awareness campaigns, even though they are not licensed marriage and family therapists. The rest of the bill is incorporated in the Senate-passed version of House Bill 5474. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on September 28, 2004.
• Passed 35 to 0 in the Senate on September 29, 2004, to explicitly allow clerics to undertake unpaid marriage or family guidance service or advice public awareness campaigns, even though they are not licensed as marriage and family therapists. This is in conjunction with House Bill 5474, which exempts clerics from the licensure requirements that apply to professional marriage and family therapists and counselors.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on September 29, 2004.
  • Referred to the House Judiciary Committee on September 29, 2004.
    • Reported in the House on November 4, 2004, without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Joanne Voorhees (R) on December 9, 2004, to link the bill to legislation authorizing a $50 income tax credit for prospective newlyweds who take pre-marriage training, and requiring parents seeking a divorce to take training in the effect of divorce on children and have a "parenting plan" in place. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on December 9, 2004.
• Passed 90 to 11 in the House on December 9, 2004, to explicitly allow clerics to undertake unpaid marriage or family guidance service or advice public awareness campaigns, even though they are not licensed as marriage and family therapists. This is in conjunction with House Bill 5474, which exempts clerics from the licensure requirements that apply to professional marriage and family therapists and counselors.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on December 9, 2004, to concur with the House-passed version of the bill, which links it to legislation authorizing a $50 income tax credit for prospective newlyweds who take pre-marriage training, and requiring parents seeking a divorce to take training in the effect of divorce on children and have a "parenting plan" in place. Passed 32 to 3 in the Senate on December 9, 2004.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Vetoed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on December 29, 2004.