H.B. 201

             1     

VISITATION AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: LaVar Christensen

             5     
Senate Sponsor: John L. Valentine

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends provisions related to supervised parent-time.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    defines supervised parent-time;
             13          .    describes the conditions under which a court can order supervised parent-time; and
             14          .    creates a process for selecting persons to supervise parent-time.
             15      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             16          None
             17      Other Special Clauses:
             18          None
             19      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             20      AMENDS:
             21           30-3-32 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 3 and 146
             22      ENACTS:
             23           30-3-34.5 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             24     
             25      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             26          Section 1. Section 30-3-32 is amended to read:
             27           30-3-32. Parent-time -- Intent -- Policy -- Definitions.


             28          (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to promote parent-time at a level consistent with
             29      all parties' interests.
             30          (2) (a) A court shall consider as primary the fundamental liberty interests of parents
             31      and children as recognized in Sections 62A-4a-201 and 78A-6-503 , which include the safety
             32      and well-being of the child and the parent who [is the victim of] experience domestic or family
             33      violence.
             34          (b) Absent a showing by [a preponderance of] clear and convincing evidence of real
             35      harm or substantiated potential harm to the child:
             36          (i) it is in the best interests of the child of divorcing, divorced, or adjudicated parents to
             37      have frequent, meaningful, and continuing access to each parent following separation or
             38      divorce;
             39          (ii) each divorcing, separating, or adjudicated parent is entitled to and responsible for
             40      frequent, meaningful, and continuing access with his child consistent with the child's best
             41      interests; and
             42          (iii) it is in the best interests of the child to have both parents actively involved in
             43      parenting the child.
             44          (c) An order issued by a court pursuant to Title 78B, Chapter 7, Part 1, Cohabitant
             45      Abuse Act, shall be considered evidence of real harm or substantiated potential harm to the
             46      child.
             47          (3) For purposes of Sections 30-3-32 through 30-3-37 :
             48          (a) "Child" means the child or children of divorcing, separating, or adjudicated parents.
             49          (b) "Christmas school vacation" means the time period beginning on the evening the
             50      child gets out of school for the Christmas or winter school break until the evening before the
             51      child returns to school.
             52          (c) "Extended parent-time" means a period of parent-time other than a weekend,
             53      holiday as provided in Subsections 30-3-35 (2)(f) and (2)(g), religious holidays as provided in
             54      Subsections 30-3-33 (3) and (17), and "Christmas school vacation."
             55          (d) "Supervised parent-time" means parent-time that requires the noncustodial parent to
             56      be accompanied during parent-time by an individual approved by the court.
             57          [(d)] (e) "Surrogate care" means care by any individual other than the parent of the
             58      child.


             59          [(e)] (f) "Uninterrupted time" means parent-time exercised by one parent without
             60      interruption at any time by the presence of the other parent.
             61          [(f)] (g) "Virtual parent-time" means parent-time facilitated by tools such as telephone,
             62      email, instant messaging, video conferencing, and other wired or wireless technologies over the
             63      Internet or other communication media to supplement in-person visits between a noncustodial
             64      parent and a child or between a child and the custodial parent when the child is staying with the
             65      noncustodial parent. Virtual parent-time is designed to supplement, not replace, in-person
             66      parent-time.
             67          (4) If a parent relocates because of an act of domestic violence or family violence by
             68      the other parent, the court shall make specific findings and orders with regards to the
             69      application of Section 30-3-37 .
             70          Section 2. Section 30-3-34.5 is enacted to read:
             71          30-3-34.5. Supervised parent-time.
             72          (1) When strictly necessary to protect a child and no less restrictive means is
             73      reasonably available, a court may order supervised parent-time if the court determines from
             74      sufficient available evidence that the child would be subject to physical, psychological, or
             75      emotional danger from the noncustodial parent if left unsupervised with the noncustodial
             76      parent.
             77          (2) A court that indicates its intention to order supervised parent-time shall require
             78      both parties to provide the names of at least two persons who are capable and willing to
             79      supervise the proposed noncustodial parent if needed during parent-time.
             80          (3) The court shall select one name from each list and designate one to be the primary
             81      supervisor and one to be the secondary supervisor. The secondary supervisor may only be used
             82      when the primary supervisor is unavailable. The court shall provide additional guidance and
             83      direction for parent-time when neither supervisor is available.
             84          (4) The court shall diligently strive to give preference to a relative of the noncustodial
             85      parent who is known to the child, or an individual recommended by the noncustodial parent,
             86      when making the selection in Subsection (3).
             87          (5) (a) Supervised parent-time may only be assigned to a paid service if the court finds
             88      that there is no suitable relative or recommended individual willing and able to fulfill the role
             89      as provided in Subsection (2).


             90          (b) A paid service provider may not cause undue financial hardship that effectively
             91      prevents a parent from full and fair exercise of the parent's rights pursuant to Sections
             92      62A-4a-201 and 78A-6-503 .
             93          (c) A noncustodial parent may petition the court and is entitled to restoration of
             94      unsupervised parent-time due to improved circumstances and correction of former conditions
             95      that the previous order was based upon. Supervised parent-time is an extreme protective
             96      measure. Relief shall be made available on an expedited basis to the fullest extent possible.
             97      Supervised parent-time is temporary and may not cause or contribute to potential irretrievable
             98      destruction of family relationships. A reasonable plan for eliminating the need for supervision
             99      may be ordered by the court. At all times, the court shall balance parental rights, children's
             100      interests, and family unity.
             101          (d) A noncustodial parent's inability to pay for expenses associated with this
             102      Subsection (5) is not cause to withhold parent-time and is solely subject to debt collection
             103      procedures and remedies.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-6-14 7:24 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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