(The Center Square) – California is the next state poised to ban child marriage after human rights groups have been calling on state legislatures to ban the practice.
Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to sign AB 1267 before a legislative deadline at the end of the month. The bipartisan bill amends state law to prohibit individuals from marrying in California who are under age 18 without exception. It closes a loophole that allows children of any age to marry if they have parental consent and judicial approval.
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“r2=:7@C?:2 :D @?6 @7 ;FDE E9C66 DE2E6D :? E96 4@F?ECJ H:E9 ?@ 23D@=FE6 >:?:>F> 286 7@C >2CC:286[” tBF2=:EJ }@H wF>2? #:89ED 2EE@C?6J p?2DE2D:2 {2H E@=5 %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6] |:DD:DD:AA: 2?5 }6H |6I:4@ 2C6 E96 @E96C EH@] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“%9:D >2<6D r2=:7@C?:2 2? @FE=:6C 3@E9 :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 8=@32==J[” {2H D2:5] “%96 A@E6?E:2= 7@C 92C> :D 6?@C>@FD[ H:E9 E9@FD2?5D @7 8:C=D 6?E6C65 :?E@ >2CC:286 :? r2=:7@C?:2 6249 J62C] ~?6 A2CE:4F=2C=J 52?86C@FD =@@A9@=6 :? E96 DE2E6 :D 2? 6IA=:4:E H@C<2C@F?5 7@C DE2EFE@CJ C2A6j D6I H:E9 2 >:?@C :D :==682=[ F?=6DD E96 4@FA=6 :D 7:CDE >2CC:65] %9:D 67764E:G6=J 2==@HD 25F=ED E@ 6G256 E96 =2H 2?5 A6CA6EC2E6 H:E9 :>AF?:EJ] ~?46 v@G6C?@C }6HD@> D:8?D pq\`aef :?E@ =2H[ r2=:7@C?:2 H:== 36 E96 `gE9 DE2E6 E@ 255C6DD 49:=5 >2CC:286]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm|F=E:A=6 9F>2? C:89ED 8C@FAD[ :?4=F5:?8 tBF2=:EJ }@H[ &?492:?65 pE {2DE 2?5 E96 %29:C:9 yFDE:46 r6?E6C 2C8F6 E96 :DDF6 :D ?@?A2CE:D2? 2?5 49:=5C6?[ 6DA64:2==J 8:C=D[ D9@F=5 36 AC@E64E65] &?492:?65 2E {2DE 2=D@ =2F?4965 E96 kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^EC24<:?8]FD]?J=2D]4@>^=^2522`67a_55ec23c2ac7g657b4a454ab^f^_637ehba`ah2d3a5f7bc5a`3`h`f77cd4e33e45bd_d`f`ca7dgf6ch_fe3347g5n4249603FDE6Cl`fh__`aeffQmr2=:7@C?:2 r@2=:E:@? E@ t?5 r9:=5 |2CC:286k^2mk^DEC@?8m[ :? DFAA@CE @7 pq `aef] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp44@C5:?8 E@ 2? kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]F?492:?652E=2DE]@C8^F?:E65\DE2E6D\49:=5\>2CC:286\AC@3=6>\DEF5J\7:?5:?8D\E9C@F89\a_a`^Qm&?r92:?65 pE {2DE C6A@CEk^2mk^DEC@?8m[ 36EH66? a___ 2?5 a_a`[ ?62C=J b`d[___ 49:=5C6? H6C6 =682==J 6?E6C65 :?E@ >2CC:286 ?2E:@?H:56] %96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ H6C6 8:C=D 2D J@F?8 2D `_ H65 E@ 25F=E >6?]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp5G@42E6D @7 E96 pq `aef 2C8F6 E96 =@@A9@=6 :D FD65 3J 49:=5 AC652E@CD 2?5 E9@D6 6IA=@:E:?8 &]$] G:D2 =2HD E9C@F89 “AC@IJ >2CC:286D[” H9:49 92G6 366? 7@F?5 E@ :?46?E:G:K6 2?5 ;FDE:7J DE2EFE@CJ C2A6] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“!2C6?E2= 4@?D6?E 2?5 2 ;F586VD 2AAC@G2= 2C6 7C2>65 2D D2768F2C5D E@ AC6G6?E 4@6C4:@?[ 3FE :? AC24E:46 E96J 5@ =:EE=6 E@ AC6G6?E 7@C465 >2CC:286[” {2H D2:5] “~?46 2 49:=5 :D >2CC:65[ E96J 2C6 67764E:G6=J EC2AA65 3642FD6 @7 E96:C =682= DE2EFD 2D 2 >:?@Cj E96J >2J ?@E 36 23=6 E@ :?56A6?56?E=J C6E2:? 2 =2HJ6C[ 7:=6 7@C 5:G@C46[ @C FE:=:K6 2 5@>6DE:4 G:@=6?46 D96=E6C] %96 @?=J H2J E@ 67764E:G6=J AC6G6?E 7@C465 >2CC:286 7@C >:?@CD :D 2 4=62C >:?:>F> 286 @7 `g H:E9 ?@ 6I46AE:@?D]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm(9:=6 DE2E6 =2HD 8@G6C? E96 =682= 286 7@C >2CC:286[ 4@?8C6DD:@?2= s6>@4C2ED 7:=65 E96 r9:=5 |2CC:286 !C6G6?E:@? p4E E@ 255C6DD E96 :DDF6 2E E96 7656C2= =6G6=] xE H2D 7:CDE 7:=65 :? a_ac 2?5 C646?E=J C67:=65 3J &]$] $6?] s:4< sFC3:?[ s\x{[ H:E9 @?=J s6>@4C2E:4 4@DA@?D@CD] p5G@424J 8C@FAD 2C6 42==:?8 @? #6AF3=:42?D E@ DFAA@CE :E]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmxE D6ED >:?:>F> 286 C6BF:C6>6?ED 7@C &]$] A6E:E:@?6CD 2?5 7@C6:8? 36?67:4:2C:6D @7 DA@FD6 2?5 7:2?4é6 G:D2D E@ AC6G6?E E96 6IA=@:E2E:@? @7 49:=5C6? :? >2CC:286\32D65 G:D2 AC@8C2>D F?56C E96 8F:D6 @7 >2CC:286] xE 2=D@ AC@9:3:ED 49:=5 >2CC:286 7C@> 36:?8 A6C7@C>65 @? AC@A6CEJ @H?65 @C 7F?565 3J E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E[ :?4=F5:?8 &]$] >:=:E2CJ 32D6D H@C=5H:56[ %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^?2E:@?2=^2CE:4=60f4cd7chc\_733\c4ca\h7ad\22d3647b`efg]9E>=QmkDEC@?8mC6A@CE65k^DEC@?8m]k^2m k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“(9:=6 AC@A@D65 7656C2= >62DFC6D 4@F=5 255C6DD DA64:7:4 2DA64ED @7 49:=5 >2CC:286[ :?4=F5:?8 :>>:8C2E:@? @C >2CC:286D @44FCC:?8 @? 7656C2= =2?5[ DE2E6D F=E:>2E6=J C6E2:? 2FE9@C:EJ @G6C E96 >:?:>F> 286 @7 >2CC:286[” {2H D2:5] “(:E9@FE 2 4=62C 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= >2?52E6 DF49 2D E96 tBF2= #:89ED p>6?5>6?E[ H9:49 H@F=5 8F2C2?E66 6BF2=:EJ @? E96 32D:D @7 D6I F?56C E96 =2H[ r@?8C6DD 42??@E A2DD 2 7656C2= >:?:>F> 286 @7 >2CC:286 6?7@C4623=6 3J 2== DE2E6D] %96C67@C6[ 6=:>:?2E:?8 E96 =2HD E92E 2==@H 49:=5 >2CC:286 C6>2:?D =2C86=J 2 DE2E6\3J\DE2E6 25G@424J 677@CE]” k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmp44@C5:?8 E@ 2 &]$] $E2E6 s6A2CE>6?E kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^a__h\a_`f]DE2E6]8@G^5@4F>6?ED^@C82?:K2E:@?^adch_c]A57QmC6A@CEk^2mk^DEC@?8m[ 49:=5[ 62C=J 2?5 7@C465 >2CC:286D Wrtu|X 2C6 2 “9F>2? C:89ED 23FD6 E92E 4@?EC:3FE6D E@ 64@?@>:4 92C5D9:A 2?5 =625D E@ F?56C\:?G6DE>6?E :? 8:C=D’ 65F42E:@?2= 2?5 962=E9 42C6 ?665D] ]]] t2C=J >2CC:286 7@C46D 2 8:C= :?E@ 25F=E9@@5 2?5 >@E96C9@@5 367@C6 D96 :D A9JD:42==J 2?5 >6?E2==J >2EFC6 2?5 367@C6 D96 4@>A=6E6D 96C 65F42E:@?[ =:>:E:?8 96C 7FEFC6 @AE:@?D” 2?5 F?56C>:?6D “7@DE6CD 4@?5:E:@?D E92E 6?23=6 @C 6I246C32E6 G:@=6?46 2?5 :?D64FC:EJ[ :?4=F5:?8 5@>6DE:4 G:@=6?46]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 s:DEC:4E @7 r@=F>3:2 2?5 `f DE2E6D 92G6 6?24E65 2 49:=5 >2CC:286 32?i r@??64E:4FE[ s6=2H2C6[ |2:?6[ |2DD249FD6EED[ |:49:82?[ |:??6D@E2[ |:DD@FC:[ }6H w2>AD9:C6[ }6H y6CD6J[ }6H *@C<[ ~C68@?[ !6??DJ=G2?:2[ #9@56 xD=2?5[ '6C>@?E[ ':C8:?:2 2?5 (2D9:?8E@?] ~<=29@>2 H2D E96 =2E6DE E@ 5@ D@ E9:D J62C] xED ?6H =2H 8@6D :?E@ 67764E }@G] `] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“u@C E96 A2DE 564256[ DE2E6 =68:D=2E@CD 92G6 H@C<65 24C@DD E96 2:D=6 E@ DEC6?8E96? DE2E6 >2CC:286\286 =2HD 2?5 6?24E 4@>A=6E6 32?D @? 49:=5 >2CC:286] %92E AC@8C6DD 56>@?DEC2E6D E92E =68:D=2E@CD 7C@> 24C@DD E96 A@=:E:42= DA64ECF> 28C66 E92E 49:=5C6? D9@F=5 ?@E 36 A=2465 2E C:D< @7 23FD6[ EC277:4<:?8[ @C 6IA=@:E2E:@? F?56C E96 8F:D6 @7 >2CC:286[” r2D6J r2CE6C $H68>2?[ %29:C:9 yFDE:46 r6?E6C’D 5:C64E@C @7 AF3=:4 A@=:4J[ E@=5 %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmr9:=5 >2CC:286 C6>2:?D =682= :? bb DE2E6D W>:?@CD 2C6 2==@H65 E@ >2CCJ H:E9 A2C6?E2= @C ;F5:4:2= 2AAC@G2=Xi p=232>2[ p=2D<2[ pC:K@?2[ pC<2?D2D[ r2=:7@C?:2[ r@=@C25@[ u=@C:52[ v6@C8:2[ w2H2::[ x529@[ x==:?@:D[ x?5:2?2[ x@H2[ z2?D2D[ z6?EF4<J[ {@F:D:2?2[ |2CJ=2?5[ |:DD:DD:AA:[ |@?E2?2[ }63C2D<2[ }6G252[ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ }@CE9 s2<@E2[ ~9:@[ $@FE9 r2C@=:?2[ $@FE9 s2<@E2[ %6??6DD66[ %6I2D[ &E29[ (6DE ':C8:?:2[ (:D4@?D:? 2?5 (J@>:?8] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%9:D E@E2= :D 5@H? 7C@> ch :? a_`g[ H96? s6=2H2C6 2?5 }6H y6CD6J H6C6 E96 7:CDE EH@ DE2E6D E@ AC@9:3:E 49:=5 >2CC:286 F?56C 286 `g H:E9 ?@ 6I46AE:@?D[ %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^?2E:@?2=^2CE:4=60736737_c\d5_6\``6g\3e6e\43h5decb34`b]9E>=QmkDEC@?8mC6A@CE65k^DEC@?8m]k^2m x? a_`h[ }6G252 kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^?6G252^2CE:4=60g56e5geg\cf`5\``6h\33d_\6b_h323e636h]9E>=Qm2EE6>AE65 E@ A2DDk^2mk^DEC@?8m 2 E@E2= 32? 3FE =:>:E65 E96 32? E@ F?56C 286 `f kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96?6G252:?56A6?56?E]4@>^2CE:4=6^3:A2CE:D2?\3:==\92D\2==\3FE\6=:>:?2E65\F?56C286\>2CC:286DQmH:E9 2 C6BF:C6>6?Ek^2m k^DEC@?8m7@C A2C6?E2= @C ;F5:4:2= 4@?D6?E 7@C `f\J62C\@=5D]k^Am