Coerced marriage.

Assembly Member Bains' legislation to combat coerced marriage in California expands criminal penalties while removing time restrictions on marriage nullification proceedings. The measure revises Section 265 of the Penal Code to criminalize forcing or attempting to force any person, regardless of age or gender, into marriage or defilement through force, menace, or duress.

The bill eliminates existing time limits for filing marriage nullification proceedings under specific circumstances, including cases involving underage consent, unsound mind, fraud, or force. Under current law, parties whose consent was obtained by force must file within four years of marriage. The proposed changes allow injured parties to commence nullification proceedings at any time after the marriage takes place.

These modifications to both criminal and civil statutes create a more comprehensive framework for addressing forced marriage. The legislation maintains existing penalties of imprisonment while broadening protections to apply equally across demographic categories. While the bill requires implementation of state-mandated local programs, it specifies that local agencies and school districts will not receive reimbursement for associated costs, as the changes primarily involve criminal statute modifications.