That the City Council consider the approval and adoption of RESOLUTION NO. CC 2024-__ ENTITLED:  A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA HABRA, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING ITS OPPOSITION TO CHILD MARRIAGE BY CALLING FOR AN “18 NO EXCEPTIONS” LAW.

At the Regular City Council Meeting of January 16, 2024, Mayor Pro Tem Espinoza indicated that she had been contacted by a representative from Global Hope 365 requesting that the La Habra City Council adopt a resolution declaring its opposition to child marriage and calling for an "18 No Exceptions" law to be passed in California. Child Marriage is defined as a formal marriage or informal union where one or both parties are under the age of 18. In the United States, California is one of five states that has no minimum age of marriage as long as parental and/or judicial consent is given. Some other states allow child marriage with age limits, usually 16 to 17, though sometimes younger, with the requirement to have parental and/or judicial consent.  There are eleven states that have passed laws ending child marriage for all minors, without exception. 

Global Hope 365 is an organization dedicated to ending child marriage in the United States and preventing human trafficking. Since 2020, Global Hope 365 has worked with other California municipalities to pass resolutions showing their commitment to end child marriage, and asking the California State Legislature to introduce legislation to "End Child Marriage Under 18, No Exceptions."  To date, 14 cities in California have already adopted resolutions and Global Hope 365 has indicated that they are currently working with another 37 cities and counties in the state to consider and adopt similar resolutions. 

As a result of Mayor Pro Tem Espinoza's motion, which was seconded by Councilmember Medrano, staff has prepared the attached resolution for Council consideration that expresses the City of La Habra's opposition to child marriage and calls for an "18 No Exceptions" law to be enacted in California.