H.B. 375 Enrolled

             1     

PARENT-TIME AFTER RELOCATION OF A PARENT

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Gage Froerer

             5     
Senate Sponsor: David P. Hinkins

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends provisions governing the relocation of a custodial parent with a minor
             10      child or children.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    clarifies that parent-time associated with a minor child and the relocation of the
             14      custodial parent of the minor child is limited to children age 5 to 18.
             15      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             16          None
             17      Other Special Clauses:
             18          None
             19      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             20      AMENDS:
             21           30-3-37 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 227
             22     
             23      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             24          Section 1. Section 30-3-37 is amended to read:
             25           30-3-37. Relocation.
             26          (1) For purposes of this section, "relocation" means moving 150 miles or more from
             27      the residence of the other parent.
             28          (2) The relocating parent shall provide 60 days advance written notice of the intended
             29      relocation to the other parent. The written notice of relocation shall contain statements


             30      affirming the following:
             31          (a) the parent-time provisions in Subsection (5) or a schedule approved by both parties
             32      will be followed; and
             33          (b) neither parent will interfere with the other's parental rights pursuant to court
             34      ordered parent-time arrangements, or the schedule approved by both parties.
             35          (3) The court shall, upon motion of any party or upon the court's own motion, schedule
             36      a hearing with notice to review the notice of relocation and parent-time schedule as provided in
             37      Section 30-3-35 and make appropriate orders regarding the parent-time and costs for
             38      parent-time transportation.
             39          (4) In a hearing to review the notice of relocation, the court shall, in determining if the
             40      relocation of a custodial parent is in the best interest of the child, consider any other factors that
             41      the court considers relevant to the determination. If the court determines that relocation is not
             42      in the best interest of the child, and the custodial parent relocates, the court may order a change
             43      of custody.
             44          (5) If the court finds that the relocation is in the best interest of the child, the court shall
             45      determine the parent-time schedule and allocate the transportation costs that will be incurred
             46      for the child to visit the noncustodial parent. In making its determination, court shall consider:
             47          (a) the reason for the parent's relocation;
             48          (b) the additional costs or difficulty to both parents in exercising parent-time;
             49          (c) the economic resources of both parents; and
             50          (d) other factors the court considers necessary and relevant.
             51          (6) Unless otherwise ordered by the court, upon the relocation, as defined in
             52      Subsection (1), of one of the parties the following schedule shall be the minimum requirements
             53      for parent-time [with a school-age child] for children 5 to 18 years of age:
             54          (a) in years ending in an odd number, the child shall spend the following holidays with
             55      the noncustodial parent:
             56          (i) Thanksgiving holiday beginning Wednesday until Sunday; and
             57          (ii) Spring break, if applicable, beginning the last day of school before the holiday until


             58      the day before school resumes;
             59          (b) in years ending in an even number, the child shall spend the following holidays
             60      with the noncustodial parent:
             61          (i) the entire winter school break period; and
             62          (ii) the Fall school break beginning the last day of school before the holiday until the
             63      day before school resumes;
             64          (c) extended parent-time equal to 1/2 of the summer or off-track time for consecutive
             65      weeks. The children should be returned to the custodial home no later than seven days before
             66      school begins; however, this week shall be counted when determining the amount of
             67      parent-time to be divided between the parents for the summer or off-track period; and
             68          (d) one weekend per month, at the option and expense of the noncustodial parent.
             69          (7) The court may also set a parent-time schedule for children under the age of five.
             70      The schedule shall take into consideration the following:
             71          (a) the age of the child;
             72          (b) the developmental needs of the child;
             73          (c) the distance between the parents' homes;
             74          (d) the travel arrangements and cost;
             75          (e) the level of attachment between the child and the noncustodial parent; and
             76          (f) any other factors relevant to the best interest of the child.
             77          [(7)] (8) The noncustodial parent's monthly weekend entitlement is subject to the
             78      following restrictions.
             79          (a) If the noncustodial parent has not designated a specific weekend for parent-time,
             80      the noncustodial parent shall receive the last weekend of each month unless a holiday assigned
             81      to the custodial parent falls on that particular weekend. If a holiday assigned to the custodial
             82      parent falls on the last weekend of the month, the noncustodial parent shall be entitled to the
             83      next to the last weekend of the month.
             84          (b) If a noncustodial parent's extended parent-time or parent-time over a holiday
             85      extends into or through the first weekend of the next month, that weekend shall be considered


             86      the noncustodial parent's monthly weekend entitlement for that month.
             87          (c) If a child is out of school for teacher development days or snow days after the
             88      children begin the school year, or other days not included in the list of holidays in Subsection
             89      (6) and those days are contiguous with the noncustodial parent's monthly weekend parent-time,
             90      those days shall be included in the weekend parent-time.
             91          [(8)] (9) The custodial parent is entitled to all parent-time not specifically allocated to
             92      the noncustodial parent.
             93          [(9)] (10) In the event finances and distance preclude the exercise of minimum
             94      parent-time for the noncustodial parent during the school year, the court should consider
             95      awarding more time for the noncustodial parent during the summer time if it is in the best
             96      interests of the children.
             97          [(10)] (11) Upon the motion of any party, the court may order uninterrupted
             98      parent-time with the noncustodial parent for a minimum of 30 days during extended
             99      parent-time, unless the court finds it is not in the best interests of the child. If the court orders
             100      uninterrupted parent-time during a period not covered by this section, it shall specify in its
             101      order which parent is responsible for the child's travel expenses.
             102          [(11)] (12) Unless otherwise ordered by the court the relocating party shall be
             103      responsible for all the child's travel expenses relating to Subsections (6)(a) and (b) and 1/2 of
             104      the child's travel expenses relating to Subsection (6)(c), provided the noncustodial parent is
             105      current on all support obligations. If the noncustodial parent has been found in contempt for
             106      not being current on all support obligations, the noncustodial parent shall be responsible for all
             107      of the child's travel expenses under Subsection (6), unless the court rules otherwise.
             108      Reimbursement by either responsible party to the other for the child's travel expenses shall be
             109      made within 30 days of receipt of documents detailing those expenses.
             110          [(12)] (13) The court may apply this provision to any preexisting decree of divorce.
             111          [(13)] (14) Any action under this section may be set for an expedited hearing.
             112          [(14)] (15) A parent who fails to comply with the notice of relocation in Subsection (2)
             113      shall be in contempt of the court's order.


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