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S.B. 136 Enrolled

                 

PARENTING PLAN FOR DIVORCING PARENTS

                 
2001 GENERAL SESSION

                 
STATE OF UTAH

                 
Sponsor: Lyle W. Hillyard

                  This act modifies the joint custody provisions to require that a parenting plan be provided
                  by parents requesting joint custody of minor children. The act defines a parenting plan,
                  provides objectives, and prescribes requirements for filing a parenting plan. It also requires
                  the designation of a dispute resolution process for any breakdown of the agreement.
                  This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
                  AMENDS:
                      30-3-10.2, as last amended by Chapter 174, Laws of Utah 1997
                      30-3-10.3, as last amended by Chapter 167, Laws of Utah 1994
                  ENACTS:
                      30-3-10.7, Utah Code Annotated 1953
                      30-3-10.8, Utah Code Annotated 1953
                      30-3-10.9, Utah Code Annotated 1953
                  Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
                      Section 1. Section 30-3-10.2 is amended to read:
                       30-3-10.2. Joint legal custody order -- Factors for court determination -- Public
                  assistance.
                      (1) The court may order joint legal custody or joint physical custody or both if the parents
                  have filed a parenting plan in accordance with Section 30-3-10.8 and it determines that joint legal
                  custody or joint physical custody or both is in the best interest of the child [and:].
                      [(a) both parents agree to an order of joint legal custody; or]
                      [(b) both parents appear capable of implementing joint legal custody.]
                      (2) In determining whether the best interest of a child will be served by ordering joint legal
                  custody, the court shall consider the following factors:
                      (a) whether the physical, psychological, and emotional needs and development of the child
                  will benefit from joint legal custody;


                      (b) the ability of the parents to give first priority to the welfare of the child and reach shared
                  decisions in the child's best interest;
                      (c) whether each parent is capable of encouraging and accepting a positive relationship
                  between the child and the other parent;
                      (d) whether both parents participated in raising the child before the divorce;
                      (e) the geographical proximity of the homes of the parents;
                      (f) the preference of the child if the child is of sufficient age and capacity to reason so as to
                  form an intelligent preference as to joint legal custody;
                      (g) the maturity of the parents and their willingness and ability to protect the child from
                  conflict that may arise between the parents; and
                      (h) any other factors the court finds relevant.
                      (3) The determination of the best interest of the child shall be by a preponderance of the
                  evidence.
                      (4) The court shall inform both parties that:
                      (a) an order for joint legal custody may preclude eligibility for cash assistance provided
                  under Title 35A, Chapter 3, Employment Support Act; and
                      (b) if cash assistance is required for the support of children of the parties at any time
                  subsequent to an order of joint legal custody, the order may be terminated under Section 30-3-10.4 .
                      (5) The court may order that where possible the parties attempt to settle future disputes by
                  a dispute resolution method before seeking enforcement or modification of the terms and conditions
                  of the order of joint legal custody or joint physical custody through litigation, except in emergency
                  situations requiring ex parte orders to protect the child.
                      Section 2. Section 30-3-10.3 is amended to read:
                       30-3-10.3. Terms of joint legal custody order.
                      (1) Unless the court orders otherwise, before a final order of joint legal custody is entered
                  both parties shall attend the mandatory course for divorcing parents, as provided in Section
                  30-3-11.3 , and present a certificate of completion from the course to the court.
                      (2) An order of joint legal custody shall provide terms the court determines appropriate,

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                  which may include specifying:
                      (a) either the county of residence of the child, until altered by further order of the court, or
                  the custodian who has the sole legal right to determine the residence of the child;
                      (b) that the parents shall exchange information concerning the health, education, and welfare
                  of the child, and where possible, confer before making decisions concerning any of these areas;
                      (c) the rights and duties of each parent regarding the child's present and future physical care,
                  support, and education;
                      (d) provisions to minimize disruption of the child's attendance at school and other activities,
                  his daily routine, and his association with friends; and
                      (e) as necessary, the remaining parental rights, privileges, duties, and powers to be exercised
                  by the parents solely, concurrently, or jointly.
                      (3) The court shall, where possible, include in the order the terms [agreed to between the
                  parties] of the parenting plan provided in accordance with Section 30-3-10.8 .
                      (4) Any parental rights not specifically addressed by the court order may be exercised by the
                  parent having physical custody of the child the majority of the time.
                      (5) (a) The appointment of joint legal custodians does not impair or limit the authority of the
                  court to order support of the child, including payments by one custodian to the other.
                      (b) An order of joint legal custody, in itself, is not grounds for modifying a support order.
                      (c) The agreement [may] shall contain a dispute resolution procedure the parties agree to use
                  before seeking enforcement or modification of the terms and conditions of the order of joint legal
                  custody through litigation, except in emergency situations requiring ex parte orders to protect the
                  child.
                      Section 3. Section 30-3-10.7 is enacted to read:
                      30-3-10.7. Parenting plan -- Definitions.
                      (1) "Parenting plan" means a plan for parenting a child, including allocation of parenting
                  functions, which is incorporated in any final decree or decree of modification in an action for
                  dissolution of marriage, annulment, legal separation, or paternity.
                      (2) "Parenting functions" means those aspects of the parent-child relationship in which the

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                  parent makes decisions and performs functions necessary for the care and growth of the child.
                  Parenting functions include:
                      (a) maintaining a loving, stable, consistent, and nurturing relationship with the child;
                      (b) attending to the daily needs of the child, such as feeding, clothing, physical care,
                  grooming, supervision, health care, day care, and engaging in other activities which are appropriate
                  to the developmental level of the child and that are within the social and economic circumstances
                  of the particular family;
                      (c) attending to adequate education for the child, including remedial or other education
                  essential to the best interest of the child;
                      (d) assisting the child in developing and maintaining appropriate interpersonal relationships;
                      (e) exercising appropriate judgment regarding the child's welfare, consistent with the child's
                  developmental level and family social and economic circumstances; and
                      (f) providing for the financial support of the child.
                      Section 4. Section 30-3-10.8 is enacted to read:
                      30-3-10.8. Parenting plan -- Filing -- Modifications.
                      (1) In any proceeding under this chapter, including actions for paternity, any party requesting
                  joint custody, joint legal or physical custody, or any other type of shared parenting arrangement, shall
                  file and serve a proposed parenting plan at the time of the filing of their original petition or at the
                  time of filing their answer or counterclaim.
                      (2) In proceedings for a modification of custody provisions or modification of a parenting
                  plan, a proposed parenting plan shall be filed and served with the petition to modify, or the answer
                  or counterclaim to the petition to modify.
                      (3) A party who files a proposed parenting plan in compliance with this section may move
                  the court for an order of default to adopt the plan if the other party fails to file a proposed parenting
                  plan as required by this section.
                      (4) Either party may file and serve an amended proposed parenting plan according to the
                  rules for amending pleadings.
                      (5) The parent submitting a proposed parenting plan shall attach a verified statement that the

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                  plan is proposed by that parent in good faith.
                      (6) Both parents may submit a parenting plan which has been agreed upon. A verified
                  statement, signed by both parents, shall be attached.
                      (7) If the parents file inconsistent parenting plans, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem
                  to represent the best interests of the child, who may, if necessary, file a separate parenting plan
                  reflecting the best interests of the child.
                      Section 5. Section 30-3-10.9 is enacted to read:
                      30-3-10.9. Parenting plan -- Objectives -- Required provisions -- Dispute resolution.
                      (1) The objectives of a parenting plan are to:
                      (a) provide for the child's physical care;
                      (b) maintain the child's emotional stability;
                      (c) provide for the child's changing needs as the child grows and matures in a way that
                  minimizes the need for future modifications to the parenting plan;
                      (d) set forth the authority and responsibilities of each parent with respect to the child
                  consistent with the definitions outlined in this chapter;
                      (e) minimize the child's exposure to harmful parental conflict;
                      (f) encourage the parents, where appropriate, to meet the responsibilities to their minor
                  children through agreements in the parenting plan rather than relying on judicial intervention; and
                      (g) protect the best interests of the child.
                      (2) The parenting plan shall contain provisions for resolution of future disputes between the
                  parents, allocation of decision-making authority, and residential provisions for the child. It may
                  contain other provisions comparable to those in Sections 30-3-5 and 30-3-10.3 regarding the welfare
                  of the child.
                      (3) A process for resolving disputes shall be provided unless precluded or limited by statute.
                  A dispute resolution process may include:
                      (a) counseling;
                      (b) mediation or arbitration by a specified individual or agency; or
                      (c) court action.

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                      (4) In the dispute resolution process:
                      (a) preference shall be given to the provisions in the parenting plan;
                      (b) parents shall use the designated process to resolve disputes relating to implementation
                  of the plan, except those related to financial support, unless an emergency exists;
                      (c) a written record shall be prepared of any agreement reached in counseling or mediation
                  and provided to each party;
                      (d) if arbitration becomes necessary, a written record shall be prepared and a copy of the
                  arbitration award shall be provided to each party;
                      (e) if the court finds that a parent has used or frustrated the dispute resolution process
                  without good reason, the court may award attorney's fees and financial sanctions to the prevailing
                  parent;
                      (f) the district court shall have the right of review from the dispute resolution process; and
                      (g) the provisions of this Subsection (4) shall be set forth in any final decree or order.
                      (5) The parenting plan shall allocate decision-making authority to one or both parties
                  regarding the children's education, health care, and religious upbringing. The parties may
                  incorporate an agreement related to the care and growth of the children in these specified areas or
                  in other areas into their plan, consistent with the criteria outlined in Subsections 30-3-10.7 (2) and
                  30-3-10.9 (1). Regardless of the allocation of decision-making in the parenting plan, either parent
                  may make emergency decisions affecting the health or safety of the child.
                      (6) Each parent may make decisions regarding the day-to-day care and control of the child
                  while the child is residing with that parent.
                      (7) When mutual decision-making is designated but cannot be achieved, the parties shall
                  make a good faith effort to resolve the issue through the dispute resolution process.
                      (8) The plan shall include a residential schedule which designates in which parent's home
                  each minor child shall reside on given days of the year, including provisions for holidays, birthdays
                  of family members, vacations, and other special occasions.
                      (9) If a parent fails to comply with a provision of the parenting plan or a child support order,
                  the other parent's obligations under the parenting plan or the child support order are not affected.

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                  Failure to comply with a provision of the parenting plan or a child support order may result in a
                  finding of contempt of court.

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