H.B. 270

1

FAMILY POLICY
2 2011 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: LaVar Christensen
5 Senate Sponsor: ____________
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies Title 30, Husband and Wife, by enacting language relating to the
10 family.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . states, as the public policy of Utah, that a family, consisting of a legally and
14 lawfully married man and woman and their children, is the fundamental unit of
15 society; and
16 . requires that publicly funded social programs, government services, laws, and
17 regulations designed to support families be carefully scrutinized to ensure that they
18 promote the family.
19 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
20 None
21 Other Special Clauses:
22 None
23 Utah Code Sections Affected:
24 ENACTS:
25 30-1-4.2, Utah Code Annotated 1953
26
27 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

28 Section 1. Section 30-1-4.2 is enacted to read:
29 30-1-4.2. Public policy in support of family.
30 (1) The institution of marriage and family, consisting of the legal union of a man and a
31 woman and children conceived and born to, or adopted by, the married couple as father and
32 mother, is the fundamental unit of society and the optimum environment in which to nurture
33 and raise a child.
34 (2) Marriage and family predate all governments and are supported by and consistent
35 with the Laws of Nature and Nature's God, the Creator and Supreme Judge of the World,
36 affirmed in the nation's founding Declaration of Independence.
37 (3) Marriage represents the legal sanction and approval of society and is essential to
38 ordered liberty and public virtue.
39 (4) Procreation within marriage links generations and is fundamental to the perpetuity
40 of humanity.
41 (5) (a) Families anchored by both a father and a mother, fidelity within marriage, and
42 enduring devotion to the covenants and responsibilities of marriage are the desired norm.
43 (b) Cultures and societies where laws, practices, and public policies protect, preserve,
44 and promote such enduring and time-honored family values and principles are happiest,
45 healthiest, and most stable.
46 (6) The furtherance and protection of order and public morality are legitimate and
47 substantial government interests.
48 (7) To the extent social problems arise that adversely affect the desired optimum family
49 condition, such as the dissolution of marriage, crime, poverty, immorality, violence, and other
50 conditions that place added responsibilities on individuals and communities through publicly
51 funded and administered social programs and government services, laws and regulations shall
52 be carefully scrutinized to determine how they impact the family and the protection of children.
53 (8) (a) The laws of the state shall, to the fullest extent possible, strengthen, safeguard,
54 and sustain families.
55 (b) They shall respect and promote the essential and complementary roles of both a
56 father and a mother and uphold this public policy for the greatest public good.

Legislative Review Note
as of 2-2-11 8:55 AM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel