MINUTES OF THE

SENATE JUDICIARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CRIMINAL JUSTICE

STANDING COMMITTEE

Room 250, Utah State Capitol

February 9, 2015

 

Members Present:     Sen. Mark B. Madsen, Chair

                                    Sen. Luz Escamilla,

                                    Sen. Gene Davis

                                    Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard

                                    Sen. Daniel W. Thatcher

                                    Sen. Stephen H. Urquhart

                                    Sen. Todd Weiler

           

Staff Present:             Mr. Nathan Brady, Policy Analyst

                                    Ms. Nancy Skidmore, Committee Secretary

 

NOTE:  A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

 

Chair Madsen called the meeting to order at 3:45 p.m.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Thatcher moved to approve the minutes of the February 4, 2015 and February 5, 2015 meetings. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis absent for the vote.    

 

S.B. 136       Statute of Limitations for Criminal Fines, Fees, and Restitution (Sen. L. Hillyard)

 

Sen. Hillyard explained the bill to the committee.

 

MOTION:  Sen. Thatcher moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Thatcher moved the bill be placed on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously.

 

S.B. 141       Judiciary Amendments (Sen. L. Hillyard)

 

Sen. Hillyard explained the bill to the committee.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Davis moved S.B. 141 be replaced with 1st Sub. S.B. 141. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Spoke to the bill:         Rick Schwermer, Administrative Office of the Courts

                                    Gordon Wright, Bondsman, Utah Bail Bonds

 

 

 

MOTION:   Sen. Hillyard moved to amend the bill as follows:

 

1.         Page 2, Line 36: 


36             {30-3-11.4, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 347}   

 

2.         Page 4, Line 91 through Page 6, Line 154:

91             {Section 3.  Section 30-3-11.4 is amended to read:

             92        30-3-11.4.   Mandatory orientation course for divorcing parties -- Purpose --

             93 Curriculum -- Exceptions.

             94        (1)  There is established a mandatory divorce orientation course for all parties with

             95 minor children who file a petition for temporary separation or for a divorce.  A couple with no

             96 minor children are not required, but may choose to attend the course.  The purpose of the

             97 course shall be to educate parties about the divorce process and reasonable alternatives.

             98        (2)  A petitioner shall attend a divorce orientation course no more than 60 days after

             99 filing a petition for divorce.

             100             (3)  With the exception of temporary restraining orders pursuant to Rule 65, Utah Rules

             101      of Civil Procedures, a party may file, but the court may not hear, temporary orders until the

             102      party seeking temporary orders has completed the divorce orientation course.

             103             (4)  The respondent shall attend the divorce orientation course no more than 30 days

             104      after being served with a petition for divorce.

             105             (5)  The clerk of the court shall provide notice to a petitioner of the requirement for the

             106      course, and information regarding the course shall be included with the petition or motion,

             107      when served on the respondent.

             108             (6)  The divorce orientation course shall be neutral, unbiased, at least one hour in

             109      duration, and include:

             110             (a)  options available as alternatives to divorce;

             111             (b)  resources available from courts and administrative agencies for resolving custody

             112      and support issues without filing for divorce;

             113             (c)  resources available to improve or strengthen the marriage;

             114             (d)  a discussion of the positive and negative consequences of divorce;

             115             (e)  a discussion of the process of divorce;

             116             (f)  options available for proceeding with a divorce, including:

             117             (i)  mediation;

             118             (ii)  collaborative law; and

             119             (iii)  litigation; and

             120             (g)  a discussion of post-divorce resources.

             121             (7)  The course may be provided in conjunction with the mandatory course for

             122      divorcing parents required by Section 30-3-11.3.

             123             (8)  The Administrative Office of the Courts shall administer the course pursuant to

             124      Title 63G, Chapter 6a, Utah Procurement Code, through private or public contracts.

             125             (9)  The course may be through live instruction, video instruction, or through an online

             126      provider.

             127             (10)  Each participant shall pay the costs of the course, which may not exceed $30, to

             128      the independent contractor providing the course at the time and place of the course.  A

             129      petitioner who attends a live instruction course within 30 days [of] before filing may not be

             130      charged more than $15 for the course.  A respondent who attends a live instruction course

             131      within 30 days of being served with a petition for divorce may not be charged more than $15

             132      for the course.

             133             (a)  A fee of $5 shall be collected, as part of the course fee paid by each participant, and

             134      deposited in the Children's Legal Defense Account described in Section 51-9-408.

             135             (b)  A participant who is unable to pay the costs of the course may attend without

             136      payment and request an Affidavit of Impecuniosity from the provider to be filed with the

             137      petition or motion.  The provider shall be reimbursed for its costs by the Administrative Office

             138      of the Courts.  A petitioner who is later determined not to meet the qualifications for

             139      impecuniosity may be ordered to pay the costs of the course.

             140             (11)  Appropriations from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the Courts

             141      for the divorce orientation course shall be used to pay the costs of an indigent petitioner who is

             142      determined to be impecunious as provided in Subsection (10)(b).

             143             (12)  The Online Court Assistance Program shall include instructions with the forms for

             144      divorce which inform the petitioner of the requirement of this section.

             145             (13)  Both parties shall attend a divorce orientation course before a divorce decree may

             146      be entered, unless waived by the court.  A certificate of completion constitutes evidence to the

             147      court of course completion by the parties.

             148             (14)  It shall be an affirmative defense in all divorce actions that the divorce orientation

             149      requirement was not complied with, and the action may not continue until a party has

             150      complied.

             151             (15)  The Administrative Office of the Courts shall adopt a program to evaluate the

             152      effectiveness of the mandatory educational course.  Progress reports shall be provided if

             153      requested by the Judiciary Interim Committee.} 

                        154         Section   {4}    3  .  Section 77-20-1 is amended to read:


 

3.         Page 8, Line 212:


212         Section   {5}    4  .  Section 77-22-2.5 is amended to read:


 

4.         Page 11, Line 311:         


311         Section   {6}    5  .  Section 78A-2-301 is amended to read:


 

5.         Page 16, Line 482:         


482         Section   {7}    6  .  Section 78A-2-601 is amended to read:


 

6.         Page 17, Line 499:         


499         Section   {8}    7  .  Section 78A-7-118 is amended to read:


 

7.         Page 18, Line 541:         


541        Section   {9}    8  .  Section 78A-7-202 is amended to read:


 

8.         Page 20, Line 598:         


                      598         Section   {10}    9  .  Section 78B-1-122 is amended to read:

 

The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Davis moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Hillyard moved the bill be placed on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously.

 

S.B. 150       Driving Under the Influence Sentencing Revisions (Sen. S. Jenkins)

 

Sen. Jenkins explained the bill to the committee.

 

Spoke to the bill:         Linda Hull, Utah Department of Transportation

 

MOTION:  Sen. Escamilla moved to hold the bill. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis and Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.

 

MOTION:   Sen. Escamilla moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously with Sen. Davis and Sen. Hillyard absent for the vote.

 

Chair Madsen adjourned the meeting at 4:24 p.m.

 

 

 

________________________

Sen. Mark B. Madsen, Chair