House of Representatives State of Utah


         UTAH STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX . 350 STATE CAPITOL
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Graphic file number 0 named letter~1.jpg with height 78 p and width 81 p Left aligned
         P.O. BOX 145030 . SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84114-5030 . (801) 538-1029         February 15, 2008

Mr. Speaker:

    The Judiciary Committee recommends H.B. 169, CUSTODY EVALUATION AND PARENT COORDINATION, by Representative T. Cosgrove, be replaced and reports a favorable recommendation on 1st Sub. H.B. 169, CUSTODY EVALUATION AND PARENT COORDINATION with the following amendments:

1.    Page 3, Lines 73 through 84 :    

             73          (2) Licensed professionals in Subsection (1) shall have:

* * * Some lines not shown * * *

             80      involved in custody decisions;
  and      

             81          (b)
{   initial training totaling a minimum of 12 hours, and eight hours annually of

             82      continuing education, specific to custody evaluation; and
             83          (c)   } at least
{   24   }        three       hours      {   of initial   }        annual       training      {   , and 16 hours annually of continuing education,

             84      on   }
  in       domestic violence        issues       .


2.    Page 4, Lines 99 through 106 :    

             99          A custody evaluator
  who accepts a case       shall:

             100          (1)
{   accept cases referred by the court without regard to the financial situation of the

             101      parties;
             102          (2)   } review with each party the custody evaluator's policies and procedures, including
             103      fees, for conducting an evaluation;
             104          
{   (3)   }        (2)       provide the court with      {   copies of all written documentation and reports   }        a copy of the written custody evaluation or report, if one is prepared       ; and

             105          
{   (4)   }        (3)       note in the final report provided to the court, any missing or incomplete

             106      information.

3.    Page
4, Lines 111 through 113 :    


             111          (2) The court shall consider the financial situation
  and the merits of the claims       of both parties in determining

             112      payment for the custody evaluator's services, and make a final determination on the record of
             113      the
{   amounts   }        percentage of the evaluator's fee       each party is responsible for paying.


4.    Page 5, Lines 121 through 123 :    

             121          (1) "Parent coordinator" means a person appointed by the court to minimize trauma to
             122      the children of divorce by resolving custody
{   -   }        and parent-time       related disputes between the parents within the

             123      scope of the court's order.

5.    Page 5, Lines 135 through 148 :    

             135          (2) Parent coordinators shall have:
             136          (a)
{   formal   } training      {   or advanced knowledge   } in child development, child and adult

             137      psychopathology, interviewing techniques, and family systems;
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             144          (e) a minimum of
{   40   }        three       hours of initial training which includes training in parent

             145      coordination, family dynamics in separation and divorce, domestic violence, child abuse, and
             146      court specific parenting procedures; and
             147          (f)
{   an additional 20   }        three       hours        annually       of specialized training which includes maintenance of

             148      professional competence in the parenting coordination process
  , domestic violence, and child abuse       .


6.    Page 6, Lines 156 through 157 :    

             156          (3) A parent coordinator
{   may   }        should       decline appointment if the case is beyond the parent

             157      coordinator's skill or expertise.

7.    Page 6, Lines 161 through 163 :    


             161          (b) allow the coordinator to make recommendations
{   and decisions   } necessary to allow

             162      as little disruption in the children's home and routine as possible, yet carry out specific court
             163      orders regarding parent-time; and

8.    Page 6, Lines 168 through 170 :    

             168      continue the coordinator.
             169          
{   (6) If one parent requests additional time and the other parent declines, the court shall

             170      determine the matter.   }

9.    Page 6, Lines 177 through 179 :    

             177          (3) The parent coordinator shall communicate
{   decisions   }        recommendations       in a timely manner in person

             178      or by fax, e-mail, or telephone. In the event
{   decisions   }        recommendations       are provided orally, a written version

             179      shall follow in a timely manner.

10.    Page 7, Lines 181 through 182 :    

             181      and standards for decision-making. In addition, each party shall be given a copy of the court's
             182      order
{   to   }        appointing       the coordinator.


    Respectfully,

    Douglas C. Aagard
    Committee Chair

Voting: 11-1-1
7 HB0169.HC1.wpd 2/15/08 4:50 pm jdhowe/JDH ECM/JDH

Bill Number
Action Class
Action Code

*HB0169S01*
*H*
*HCRSUBAMD*

HB0169S01
H
HCRSUBAMD