‘90s FAMILY : THE FAMILY FILE

Marriage Rights: If Assembly Bill 3130 becomes law, California brides and grooms will be hearing “congratulations,” “best wishes” and “here are your rights under law.”

Assemblywoman Diane Martinez (D-Alhambra) says that because too many couples go into marriage with only a vague idea of what it all means, she has proposed a marriage brochure to be distributed by county clerks to all couples applying for a marriage license, starting June 1, 1995.

The brochure would cover state law on such topics as domestic violence, spousal rape, community and separate property, spousal support, child custody and support, and premarital agreements. Women will learn how changing their last names may affect their credit rating.

If it sounds as if Martinez is raining on their wedding, the legislator notes that two-thirds of all first marriages end in divorce in California. Many women suing for divorce cite domestic violence as a major complaint, she says.

Currently, most couples have less information about getting married than they do about buying a car, Martinez says.

“If we expect couples to live up to the rights and responsibilities of the marriage contract, the least we can do is let them know what those duties are,” she says.

The proposed bill’s first hearing is scheduled Thursday before the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

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Money Matters: Although they may be growing in number, women who call the family’s investment shots are still far from the majority.

“Women in general--but married women in particular--are more involved with day-to-day finances than they are with investment decisions. But that will change,” says Bridget A. Macaskill, president of the New York-based Oppenheimer Management Corp.

In a nationwide survey of 2,021 adults, the company found that 60% of the women who were married or living with someone were solely responsible for balancing the checkbook, 56% paid the bills and 38% were responsible for developing and maintaining the family budget.

Of the 1,018 women surveyed, 90% said investing is not a man’s job--and 85% of the 1,003 men surveyed agreed.

But only 17% of the women handled the insurance and 12% were solely responsible for making investments.

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Playing at Sports: Sports participation among children should be adapted to both age and gender to prevent injury and to continue to foster a healthy enjoyment of the game, says Dr. Gerard Varlotta, a professor at New York University Medical Center.

Age especially is an important factor in helping a child enjoy sports. A child younger than 8, for example, is generally not skilled enough to be involved in a strict regimen of sports training, Varlotta says.

And instead of making sports activity a competition, he adds, emphasis should be placed on “free” playtime as well as having a child play at his or her own level.

It is important to limit any bodily contact in sports played by very young children. Contact not only increases the potential for injury, but also boosts the odds that any injuries sustained will be the more serious types.

* This family roundup, compiled from wire service reports, appears in Life & Style on Wednesdays.