H.B. 22

1

EXPEDITED PARENT-TIME ENFORCEMENT
2 2008 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Julie Fisher
5 Senate Sponsor: Gregory S. Bell
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 Committee Note:
9 The Judiciary Interim Committee recommended this bill.
10 General Description:
11 This bill expands the Expedited Parent-time Enforcement Program to the entire state.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . converts the Expedited Parent-time Enforcement Program from a pilot program in
15 the Third Judicial District to a statewide program.
16 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
17 None
18 Other Special Clauses:
19 None
20 Utah Code Sections Affected:
21 AMENDS:
22 30-3-38, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 352
23 63-63a-8, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 326
24
25 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26 Section 1. Section 30-3-38 is amended to read:
27 30-3-38. Expedited Parent-time Enforcement Program.

28 (1) There is established an Expedited Parent-time Enforcement [Pilot] Program [in the
29 third judicial district] to be administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts [from July
30 1, 2003, to July 1, 2007].
31 (2) As used in this section:
32 (a) "Mediator" means a person who:
33 (i) is qualified to mediate parent-time disputes under criteria established by the
34 Administrative Office of the Courts; and
35 (ii) agrees to follow billing guidelines established by the Administrative Office of the
36 Courts and this section.
37 (b) "Services to facilitate parent-time" or "services" means services designed to assist
38 families in resolving parent-time problems through:
39 (i) counseling;
40 (ii) supervised parent-time;
41 (iii) neutral drop-off and pick-up;
42 (iv) educational classes; and
43 (v) other related activities.
44 (3) (a) [Under this pilot program, if] If a parent files a motion in the [third] district
45 court alleging that court-ordered parent-time rights are being violated, the clerk of the court,
46 after assigning the case to a judge, shall refer the case to the administrator of this [pilot]
47 program for assignment to a mediator, unless a parent is incarcerated or otherwise unavailable.
48 Unless the court rules otherwise, a parent residing outside of the state is not unavailable.
49 (b) Upon receipt of a case, the mediator shall:
50 (i) meet with the parents to address parent-time issues within 15 days of the motion
51 being filed;
52 (ii) assess the situation;
53 (iii) facilitate an agreement on parent-time between the parents; and
54 (iv) determine whether a referral to a service provider under Subsection (3)(c) is
55 warranted.
56 (c) While a case is in mediation, a mediator may refer the parents to a service provider
57 designated by the Department of Human Services for services to facilitate parent-time if:
58 (i) the services may be of significant benefit to the parents; or

59 (ii) (A) a mediated agreement between the parents is unlikely; and
60 (B) the services may facilitate an agreement.
61 (d) At any time during mediation, a mediator shall terminate mediation and transfer the
62 case to the administrator of the [pilot] program for referral to the judge or court commissioner
63 to whom the case was assigned under Subsection (3)(a) if:
64 (i) a written agreement between the parents is reached; or
65 (ii) the parents are unable to reach an agreement through mediation and:
66 (A) the parents have received services to facilitate parent-time;
67 (B) both parents object to receiving services to facilitate parent-time; or
68 (C) the parents are unlikely to benefit from receiving services to facilitate parent-time.
69 (e) Upon receiving a case from the administrator of the [pilot] program, a judge or
70 court commissioner may:
71 (i) review the agreement of the parents and, if acceptable, sign it as an order;
72 (ii) order the parents to receive services to facilitate parent-time;
73 (iii) proceed with the case; or
74 (iv) take other appropriate action.
75 (4) (a) If a parent makes a particularized allegation of physical or sexual abuse of a
76 child who is the subject of a parent-time order against the other parent or a member of the other
77 parent's household to a mediator or service provider, the mediator or service provider shall
78 immediately report that information to:
79 (i) the judge assigned to the case who may immediately issue orders and take other
80 appropriate action to resolve the allegation and protect the child; and
81 (ii) the Division of Child and Family Services within the Department of Human
82 Services in the manner required by Title 62A, Chapter 4a, Part 4, Child Abuse or Neglect
83 Reporting Requirements.
84 (b) If an allegation under Subsection (4)(a) is made against a parent with parent-time
85 rights or a member of that parent's household, parent-time by that parent shall, pursuant to an
86 order of the court, be supervised until:
87 (i) the allegation has been resolved; or
88 (ii) a court orders otherwise.
89 (c) Notwithstanding an allegation under Subsection (4)(a), a mediator may continue to

90 mediate parent-time problems and a service provider may continue to provide services to
91 facilitate parent-time unless otherwise ordered by a court.
92 (5) (a) The Department of Human Services may contract with one or more entities in
93 accordance with Title 63, Chapter 56, Utah Procurement Code, to provide:
94 (i) services to facilitate parent-time;
95 (ii) case management services; and
96 (iii) administrative services.
97 (b) An entity who contracts with the Department of Human Services under Subsection
98 (5)(a) shall:
99 (i) be qualified to provide one or more of the services listed in Subsection (5)(a); and
100 (ii) agree to follow billing guidelines established by the Department of Human Services
101 and this section.
102 (6) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(b), the cost of mediation shall be:
103 (i) reduced to a sum certain;
104 (ii) divided equally between the parents; and
105 (iii) charged against each parent taking into account the ability of that parent to pay
106 under billing guidelines adopted in accordance with this section.
107 (b) A judge may order a parent to pay an amount in excess of that provided for in
108 Subsection (6)(a) if the parent:
109 (i) failed to participate in good faith in mediation or services to facilitate parent-time;
110 or
111 (ii) made an unfounded assertion or claim of physical or sexual abuse of a child.
112 (c) (i) The cost of mediation and services to facilitate parent-time may be charged to
113 parents at periodic intervals.
114 (ii) Mediation and services to facilitate parent-time may only be terminated on the
115 ground of nonpayment if both parents are delinquent.
116 (7) If a parent fails to cooperate in good faith in mediation or services to facilitate
117 parent-time, a court may order, in subsequent proceedings, a temporary change in custody or
118 parent-time.
119 (8) (a) The Judicial Council may make rules to implement and administer the
120 provisions of this [pilot] program related to mediation.

121 (b) The Department of Human Services may make rules to implement and administer
122 the provisions of this [pilot] program related to services to facilitate parent-time.
123 (9) (a) The Administrative Office of the Courts shall adopt outcome measures to
124 evaluate the effectiveness of the mediation component of this [pilot] program. Progress reports
125 shall be provided to the Judiciary Interim Committee as requested by the committee. [At least
126 once during this pilot program, the Administrative Office of the Courts shall present to the
127 committee the results of a survey that measures the effectiveness of the program in terms of
128 increased compliance with parent-time orders and the responses of interested persons.]
129 (b) The Department of Human Services shall adopt outcome measures to evaluate the
130 effectiveness of the services component of this [pilot] program. Progress reports shall be
131 provided to the Judiciary Interim Committee as requested by the committee.
132 (c) The Administrative Office of the Courts and the Department of Human Services
133 may adopt joint outcome measures and file joint reports to satisfy the requirements of
134 Subsections (8)(a) and (b).
135 (10) [(a)] The Department of Human Services shall, by following the procedures and
136 requirements of Title 63, Chapter 38e, Federal Funds Procedures, apply for federal funds as
137 available.
138 [(b) This pilot program shall be funded through funds received under Subsection
139 (10)(a).]
140 Section 2. Section 63-63a-8 is amended to read:
141 63-63a-8. Children's Legal Defense Account.
142 (1) There is created a restricted account within the General Fund known as the
143 Children's Legal Defense Account.
144 (2) The purpose of the Children's Legal Defense Account is to provide for programs
145 that protect and defend the rights, safety, and quality of life of children.
146 (3) The Legislature shall appropriate money from the account for the administrative
147 and related costs of the following programs:
148 (a) implementing the Mandatory Educational Course on Children's Needs for
149 Divorcing Parents relating to the effects of divorce on children as provided in Sections 30-3-4 ,
150 30-3-7 , 30-3-10.3 , 30-3-11.3 , 30-3-15.3 , and 30-3-18 , and the Mediation [Pilot] Program -
151 Child Custody or Parent-time as provided in Sections 30-3-15.3 and 30-3-18 ;

152 (b) implementing the use of guardians ad litem as provided in Sections 30-3-5.2 ,
153 78-3a-318 , 78-3a-912 , 78-11-6 , and 78-7-9 ; the training of guardian ad litems and volunteers as
154 provided in Section 78-3a-912 ; and termination of parental rights as provided in Sections
155 78-3a-118 , 78-3a-119 , 78-3a-903 , and Title 78, Chapter 3a, Part 4, Termination of Parental
156 Rights Act. This account may not be used to supplant funding for the guardian ad litem
157 program in the juvenile court as provided in Section 78-3a-912 ; and
158 (c) implementing and administering the Expedited Parent-time Enforcement [Pilot]
159 Program as provided in Section 30-3-38 .
160 (4) The following withheld fees shall be allocated only to the Children's Legal Defense
161 Account and used only for the purposes provided in Subsections (3)(a) through (c):
162 (a) the additional $10 fee withheld on every marriage license issued in the state of Utah
163 as provided in Section 17-16-21 ; and
164 (b) a fee of $4 shall be withheld from the existing civil filing fee collected on any
165 complaint, affidavit, or petition in a civil, probate, or adoption matter in every court of record.
166 (5) The Division of Finance shall allocate the monies described in Subsection (4) from
167 the General Fund to the Children's Legal Defense Account.
168 (6) Any funds in excess of $200,000 remaining in the restricted account as of June 30
169 of any fiscal year shall lapse into the General Fund.




Legislative Review Note
as of 10-11-07 4:42 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel