H.B. 71
         PARENT-TIME AMENDMENTS

house floor Amendments

Amendment 1 January 22, 2008 10:48 am



Representative Kay L. McIff proposes the following amendments:

1.    Page 15, Line 454 through Page 17, Line 512 :    

             454          Section 6. Section 30-3-37 is amended to read:
             455          30-3-37. Relocation.
             456          (1)
  For purposes of this section, "relocation" means moving            {   When either parent decides to move   } from the state [of Utah] or 150 miles or more

             457      from the residence specified in the court's decree
  .            {   , that   }

    
  (2) The relocating       parent shall provide        ,       if possible        ,       60 days

             458      advance written notice of the intended relocation to the other parent. The written notice of
             459      relocation shall contain statements affirming the following:
             460          (a) the parent-time provisions in Subsection
{   [   } (5)      {   ]   }      {   (4)   } or a schedule approved by both

             461      parties will be followed; and
             462          (b) neither parent will interfere with the other's parental rights pursuant to court
             463      ordered parent-time arrangements, or the schedule approved by both parties.
             464          
{   (2)   }        (3)       The court may, upon motion of any party or upon the court's own motion, schedule

             465      a hearing with notice to review the notice of relocation and parent-time schedule as provided in
             466      Section 30-3-35 and make appropriate orders regarding the parent-time and costs for
             467      parent-time transportation.
             468          
{   (3)   }        (4)       In determining the parent-time schedule and allocating the transportation costs, the

             469      court shall consider:
             470          (a) the reason for the parent's relocation;
             471          (b) the additional costs or difficulty to both parents in exercising parent-time;
             472          (c) the economic resources of both parents; and
             473          (d) other factors the court considers necessary and relevant.
             474          [(4) Upon the motion of any party, the court may order the parent intending to move to
             475      pay the costs of transportation for:]
             476          [(a) at least one visit per year with the other parent; and]
             477          [(b) any number of additional visits as determined equitable by the court.]
             478          
{   [   } (5)      {   ]   }      {   (4)   } Unless otherwise ordered by the court, upon the relocation, as defined in

             479      Subsection (1), of one of the parties the following schedule shall be the minimum requirements
             480      for parent-time with a school-age child:


             481          (a) in years ending in an odd number, the child shall spend the following holidays with
             482      the noncustodial parent:
             483          (i) Thanksgiving holiday beginning Wednesday until Sunday; and
             484          (ii) [the fall school] Spring break, if applicable, beginning the last day of school before
             485      the holiday until the day before school resumes;
             486          (b) in years ending in an even number, the child shall spend the following holidays
             487      with the noncustodial parent:
             488          (i) the entire winter school break period; and
             489          (ii) [Spring] the Fall school break beginning the last day of school before the holiday
             490      until the day before school resumes; [and]
             491          (c) extended parent-time equal to 1/2 of the summer or off-track time for consecutive
             492      weeks. The children should be returned to the custodial home no later than seven days before
             493      school begins; however, this week shall be counted when determining the amount of
             494      parent-time to be divided between the parents for the summer or off-track period[.]; and
             495          (d) at the option and expense of the noncustodial parent, one weekend per month.
             496          (6) Upon the motion of any party, the court may order uninterrupted parent-time with
             497      the noncustodial parent for a minimum of 30 days during extended parent-time, unless the
             498      court finds it is not in the best interests of the child. If the court orders uninterrupted
             499      parent-time during a period not covered by this section, it shall specify in its order which parent
             500      is responsible for the child's travel expenses.
             501          (7) Unless otherwise ordered by the court the relocating party shall be responsible for
             502      all the child's travel expenses relating to Subsections
{   [   } (5)      {   ]   }      {   (4)   } (a) and (b) and 1/2 of the child's

             503      travel expenses relating to Subsection
{   [   } (5)      {   ]   }      {   (4)   } (c), provided the noncustodial [party] parent is

             504      current on all support obligations. If the noncustodial [party] parent has been found in
             505      contempt for not being current on all support obligations, [he] the noncustodial parent shall be
             506      responsible for all of the child's travel expenses under Subsection
{   [   } (5)      {   ]   }      {   (4)   } , unless the court

             507      rules otherwise. Reimbursement by either responsible party to the other for the child's travel
             508      expenses shall be made within 30 days of receipt of documents detailing those expenses.
             509          (8) The court may apply this provision to any preexisting decree of divorce.
             510          (9) Any action under this section may be set for an expedited hearing.
             511          (10) A parent who fails to comply with the notice of relocation in Subsection
{   (1)   }        (2)       shall

             512      be in contempt of the court's order.
    


Page 1 of 2
hb0071.hfa.01.wpd LRGC Echelsea JDHowe