Pre-marriage counseling may result in discount

If a couple getting married agrees to eight hours of pre-marriage counseling, $20 will be taken off of their marriage license fee under a bill that passed the House Wednesday.

Rep. Roz McGee, D-Salt Lake, has worked on the measure for several years. It passed the House in the 2005 Legislature but was not taken up by the Senate.

HB8 could cost the state's displaced homemaker program up to $50,000, because the current $20 state marriage fee waived in the bill would otherwise go to that program. But McGee said there are other programs that help just-divorced people with employment, child care and other needs.

Rep. Doug Aagard, R-Kaysville, said too many people are getting divorced and the state needs to become pro-active to help couples learn to work together to stay together.

The bill passed 50-18 and now goes to the Senate.