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H.B. 239

             1     

PARENT-TIME ASSISTANCE OFFICE

             2     
2003 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: Chad E. Bennion

             5      This act modifies the Human Services Code to create a Parent-time Assistance Office.
             6      The act sets out the duties of the office and allows for coordination with law enforcement,
             7      the attorney general, and the Office of Recovery Services. It also provides for agency
             8      action under the Administrative Procedures Act and allows the office to help a person fill
             9      out court-related documents once the office can no longer effectively help the person.
             10      This act raises certain court fees and creates a restricted account to fund the office. The
             11      act provides an effective date.
             12      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             13      AMENDS:
             14          78-7-35, as last amended by Chapters 250 and 329, Laws of Utah 2002
             15      ENACTS:
             16          62A-16-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             17          62A-16-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             18          62A-16-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             19          62A-16-104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             20          62A-16-105, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             21          62A-16-106, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             22          62A-16-107, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             23          62A-16-108, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             24          62A-16-109, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             25          62A-16-110, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             26          62A-16-111, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             27      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:



             28          Section 1. Section 62A-16-101 is enacted to read:
             29     
CHAPTER 16. PARENT-TIME ASSISTANCE

             30          62A-16-101. Parent-time Assistance Office.
             31          (1) There is created within the department the Parent-time Assistance Office which has
             32      the powers and duties provided by law.
             33          (2) The office is under the administrative and general supervision of the executive
             34      director of the department.
             35          Section 2. Section 62A-16-102 is enacted to read:
             36          62A-16-102. Definitions.
             37          As used in this chapter:
             38          (1) "Director" means the director of the Parent-time Assistance Office.
             39          (2) "Office" means the Parent-time Assistance Office.
             40          Section 3. Section 62A-16-103 is enacted to read:
             41          62A-16-103. Duties of office.
             42          The office has the following duties:
             43          (1) to provide parent-time services if:
             44          (a) the office has received a complaint regarding custodial interference or the denial of
             45      parent-time; or
             46          (b) the office has received a request for assistance in enforcing a parent-time schedule;
             47          (2) to carry out the obligations of the department with regard to supporting families;
             48          (3) to promote mediation as an alternative to court action;
             49          (4) to promote shared parenting by inclusion of both parents in the lives of their
             50      children;
             51          (5) to provide information concerning laws pertaining to parent-time; and
             52          (6) to cooperate and coordinate with the Office of Recovery Services when necessary
             53      to ensure the fair and reasonable enforcement of parent-time laws.
             54          Section 4. Section 62A-16-104 is enacted to read:
             55          62A-16-104. Director -- Assistance of law enforcement -- Receipt of grants --
             56      Rulemaking and enforcement.
             57          (1) The director of the office shall be appointed by the executive director.
             58          (2) The office may request the assistance of the attorney general or any local law


             59      enforcement agency to enforce a parent-time order.
             60          (3) The office, with department approval, is authorized to receive any grants or
             61      stipends from the federal government or other public or private source to aid the effective
             62      operation of its programs.
             63          (4) The office may adopt, amend, and enforce rules in accordance with Title 63,
             64      Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, necessary to carry out the provisions of this
             65      chapter.
             66          Section 5. Section 62A-16-105 is enacted to read:
             67          62A-16-105. Access to motor vehicle and law enforcement data.
             68          The office shall have access to any system used by this state to locate an individual,
             69      including motor vehicle, drivers license, or law enforcement records.
             70          Section 6. Section 62A-16-106 is enacted to read:
             71          62A-16-106. Request for assistance -- Procedure.
             72          Any person who has been awarded parent-time rights by a court may request assistance
             73      from the office in the enforcement of those rights. A person requesting assistance shall:
             74          (1) provide copies of all documents relevant to an award of parent-time rights,
             75      including divorce decree, custody agreement, any written communication with the other parent
             76      concerning parent-time schedules, mediation documents, and any other documents necessary to
             77      adequately represent their situation;
             78          (2) provide the name, current address, and phone number of the other party, if known;
             79      and
             80          (3) any other information considered necessary by the office.
             81          Section 7. Section 62A-16-107 is enacted to read:
             82          62A-16-107. Office procedures.
             83          (1) Upon the receipt of a request for assistance, the office shall immediately attempt to
             84      contact the other party by phone and attempt to resolve any difficulties to insure that
             85      parent-time is properly carried out.
             86          (2) If the party cannot be reached by phone, a letter shall be sent requesting an
             87      interview or a written and notarized statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the
             88      denial of parent-time referred to in the letter, and requiring a response by a date not later than
             89      ten days from the date of the letter.


             90          (3) If no response is received, or if the response is uncooperative, the office may
             91      initiate an action in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46b, Administrative Procedures Act.
             92          Section 8. Section 62A-16-108 is enacted to read:
             93          62A-16-108. Hearings.
             94          (1) The office shall by rule:
             95          (a) designate hearings as formal or informal; and
             96          (b) provide for notice requirements and hearing procedures.
             97          (2) The office may impose a fine of up to $250 against any party who refuses to
             98      respond, does not appear, or is found to have been noncompliant with court-ordered
             99      parent-time. All fines collected shall be deposited in the General Fund.
             100          (3) The office may also order make-up parent-time at up to twice the amount denied.
             101          Section 9. Section 62A-16-109 is enacted to read:
             102          62A-16-109. Office assistance in preparation of court documents.
             103          (1) The office may assist a party in the preparation of documents to be presented to the
             104      court involving custody and parent-time matters, if the office determines that a pattern or
             105      practice of denial of parent-time is continuing such that the office can no longer effectively
             106      assist the party being denied parent-time. The office, however, may not provide legal advice.
             107          (2) The office shall supply any party or the court, upon request, a detailed, written
             108      accounting of efforts by the office to assist in the enforcement of parent-time, the results of
             109      those efforts, and any recommended changes to the current parent-time order.
             110          Section 10. Section 62A-16-110 is enacted to read:
             111          62A-16-110. Department to assess need -- Report to Judiciary Committee.
             112          (1) The department may provide a limited amount of services through August 2004
             113      while assessing the demand for broader, more comprehensive services.
             114          (2) The department shall assess the need for services, including the demand for specific
             115      services.
             116          (3) The department shall report its assessments, findings, and conclusions to the
             117      Judiciary Interim Committee by September 30, 2004.
             118          Section 11. Section 62A-16-111 is enacted to read:
             119          62A-16-111. Parent-time Assistance Account.
             120          (1) There is created a restricted account within the General Fund known as the


             121      Parent-time Assistance Account.
             122          (2) The purpose of the Parent-time Assistance Account is to provide for programs that
             123      assist in implementing, fostering, and enforcing parent-time.
             124          (3) The Legislature shall appropriate money from the account for the administrative
             125      and related costs of the Parent-time Assistance Office created in this chapter.
             126          (4) Fifteen dollars of the fee in Subsection 78-7-35 (1)(b)(iv) and $5 of the fee in
             127      Subsection 78-7-35 (1)(d)(iv) shall be allocated to the Parent-time Assistance Account.
             128          (5) The Division of Finance shall allocate the amounts described in Subsection (4) to
             129      the Parent-time Assistance Account.
             130          Section 12. Section 78-7-35 is amended to read:
             131           78-7-35. Civil fees of the courts of record -- Courts complex design.
             132          (1) (a) The fee for filing any civil complaint or petition invoking the jurisdiction of a
             133      court of record not governed by another subsection is $140.
             134          (b) The fee for filing a complaint or petition is:
             135          (i) $45 if the claim for damages or amount in interpleader exclusive of court costs,
             136      interest, and attorney fees is $2,000 or less;
             137          (ii) $90 if the claim for damages or amount in interpleader exclusive of court costs,
             138      interest, and attorney fees is greater than $2,000 and less than $10,000;
             139          (iii) $140 if the claim for damages or amount in interpleader is $10,000 or more; and
             140          (iv) [$80] $95 if the petition is filed under Title 30, Chapter 3, Divorce, or Title 30,
             141      Chapter 4, Separate Maintenance.
             142          (c) The fee for filing a small claims affidavit is:
             143          (i) $45 if the claim for damages or amount in interpleader exclusive of court costs,
             144      interest, and attorney fees is $2,000 or less; and
             145          (ii) $70 if the claim for damages or amount in interpleader exclusive of court costs,
             146      interest, and attorney fees is greater than $2,000.
             147          (d) The fee for filing a counter claim, cross claim, complaint in intervention, third party
             148      complaint, or other claim for relief against an existing or joined party other than the original
             149      complaint or petition is:
             150          (i) $45 if the claim for relief exclusive of court costs, interest, and attorney fees is
             151      $2,000 or less;


             152          (ii) $70 if the claim for relief exclusive of court costs, interest, and attorney fees is
             153      greater than $2,000 and less than $10,000;
             154          (iii) $90 if the original petition is filed under Subsection (1)(a), the claim for relief is
             155      $10,000 or more, or the party seeks relief other than monetary damages; and
             156          (iv) [$70] $75 if the original petition is filed under Title 30, Chapter 3, Divorce, or Title
             157      30, Chapter 4, Separate Maintenance.
             158          (e) The fee for filing a small claims counter affidavit is:
             159          (i) $35 if the claim for relief exclusive of court costs, interest, and attorney fees is
             160      $2,000 or less; and
             161          (ii) $50 if the claim for relief exclusive of court costs, interest, and attorney fees is
             162      greater than $2,000.
             163          (f) The fee for depositing funds under Section 57-1-29 when not associated with an
             164      action already before the court is determined under Subsection (1)(b) based on the amount
             165      deposited.
             166          (g) The fee for filing a petition is:
             167          (i) $70 for trial de novo of an adjudication of the justice court or of the small claims
             168      department; and
             169          (ii) $40 for an appeal of a municipal administrative determination in accordance with
             170      Section 10-3-703.7 .
             171          (h) The fee for filing a notice of appeal, petition for appeal of an interlocutory order, or
             172      petition for writ of certiorari is $190.
             173          (i) (i) Except for a petition filed under Subsection 77-18-10 (2), the fee for filing a
             174      petition for expungement is $50.
             175          (ii) There is no fee for a petition filed under Subsection 77-18-10 (2).
             176          (j) (i) Fifteen dollars of the fees established by Subsections (1)(a) through (i) shall be
             177      allocated to and between the Judges' Contributory Retirement Trust Fund and the Judges'
             178      Noncontributory Retirement Trust Fund, as provided in Title 49, Chapter 17, Judges'
             179      Contributory Retirement Act, and Title 49, Chapter 18, Judges' Noncontributory Retirement
             180      Act.
             181          (ii) Two dollars of the fees established by Subsections (1)(a) through (i) shall be
             182      allocated by the state treasurer to be deposited in the restricted account, Children's Legal


             183      Defense Account, as provided in Section 63-63a-8 .
             184          (iii) One dollar of the fees established under Subsections (1)(a) through (e), (1)(g), and
             185      (1)(r) shall be allocated to and deposited with the Dispute Resolution Fund as provided in
             186      Section 78-31b-9 .
             187          (iv) Fifteen dollars of the fee established under Subsection (1)(b)(iv) and $5 of the fee
             188      established under Subsection (1)(d)(iv) shall be allocated to and deposited in the Parent-time
             189      Assistance Account as provided in Section 62A-16-111 .
             190          (k) The fee for filing a judgment, order, or decree of a court of another state or of the
             191      United States is $25.
             192          (l) The fee for filing probate or child custody documents from another state is $25.
             193          (m) (i) The fee for filing an abstract or transcript of judgment, order, or decree of the
             194      Utah State Tax Commission is $30.
             195          (ii) The fee for filing an abstract or transcript of judgment of a court of law of this state
             196      or a judgment, order, or decree of an administrative agency, commission, board, council, or
             197      hearing officer of this state or of its political subdivisions other than the Utah State Tax
             198      Commission, is $40.
             199          (n) The fee for filing a judgment by confession without action under Section 78-22-3 is
             200      $25.
             201          (o) The fee for filing an award of arbitration for confirmation, modification, or
             202      vacation under Title 78, Chapter 31a, [Utah] Arbitration Act, that is not part of an action before
             203      the court is $25.
             204          (p) The fee for filing a petition or counter-petition to modify a decree of divorce is $40.
             205          (q) The fee for filing any accounting required by law is:
             206          (i) $10 for an estate valued at $50,000 or less;
             207          (ii) $20 for an estate valued at $75,000 or less but more than $50,000;
             208          (iii) $40 for an estate valued at $112,000 or less but more than $75,000;
             209          (iv) $80 for an estate valued at $168,000 or less but more than $112,000; and
             210          (v) $150 for an estate valued at more than $168,000.
             211          (r) The fee for filing a demand for a civil jury is $75.
             212          (s) The fee for filing a notice of deposition in this state concerning an action pending in
             213      another state under Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 26 is $25.


             214          (t) The fee for filing documents that require judicial approval but are not part of an
             215      action before the court is $25.
             216          (u) The fee for a petition to open a sealed record is $25.
             217          (v) The fee for a writ of replevin, attachment, execution, or garnishment is $35 in
             218      addition to any fee for a complaint or petition.
             219          (w) The fee for a petition for authorization for a minor to marry required by Section
             220      30-1-9 is $5.
             221          (x) The fee for a certificate issued under Section 26-2-25 is $2.
             222          (y) The fee for a certified copy of a document is $4 per document plus 50 cents per
             223      page.
             224          (z) The fee for an exemplified copy of a document is $6 per document plus 50 cents
             225      per page.
             226          (aa) The Judicial Council shall by rule establish a schedule of fees for copies of
             227      documents and forms and for the search and retrieval of records under Title 63, Chapter 2,
             228      Government Records Access and Management Act. Fees under this Subsection (1)(aa) shall be
             229      credited to the court as a reimbursement of expenditures.
             230          (bb) There is no fee for services or the filing of documents not listed in this section or
             231      otherwise provided by law.
             232          (cc) Except as provided in this section, all fees collected under this section are paid to
             233      the General Fund. Except as provided in this section, all fees shall be paid at the time the clerk
             234      accepts the pleading for filing or performs the requested service.
             235          (dd) The filing fees under this section may not be charged to the state, its agencies, or
             236      political subdivisions filing or defending any action. In judgments awarded in favor of the
             237      state, its agencies, or political subdivisions, except the Office of Recovery Services, the court
             238      shall order the filing fees and collection costs to be paid by the judgment debtor. The sums
             239      collected under this Subsection (1)(dd) shall be applied to the fees after credit to the judgment,
             240      order, fine, tax, lien, or other penalty and costs permitted by law.
             241          (2) (a) (i) From March 17, 1994 until June 30, 1998, the administrator of the courts
             242      shall transfer all revenues representing the difference between the fees in effect after May 2,
             243      1994, and the fees in effect before February 1, 1994, as dedicated credits to the Division of
             244      Facilities Construction and Management Capital Projects Fund.


             245          (ii) (A) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(a)(ii)(B), the Division of Facilities
             246      Construction and Management shall use up to $3,750,000 of the revenue deposited in the
             247      Capital Projects Fund under this Subsection (2)(a) to design and take other actions necessary to
             248      initiate the development of a courts complex in Salt Lake City.
             249          (B) If the Legislature approves funding for construction of a courts complex in Salt
             250      Lake City in the 1995 Annual General Session, the Division of Facilities Construction and
             251      Management shall use the revenue deposited in the Capital Projects Fund under Subsection
             252      (2)(a)(ii) to construct a courts complex in Salt Lake City.
             253          (C) After the courts complex is completed and all bills connected with its construction
             254      have been paid, the Division of Facilities Construction and Management shall use any monies
             255      remaining in the Capital Projects Fund under Subsection (2)(a)(ii) to fund the Vernal District
             256      Court building.
             257          (iii) The Division of Facilities Construction and Management may enter into
             258      agreements and make expenditures related to this project before the receipt of revenues
             259      provided for under this Subsection (2)(a)(iii).
             260          (iv) The Division of Facilities Construction and Management shall:
             261          (A) make those expenditures from unexpended and unencumbered building funds
             262      already appropriated to the Capital Projects Fund; and
             263          (B) reimburse the Capital Projects Fund upon receipt of the revenues provided for
             264      under this Subsection (2).
             265          (b) After June 30, 1998, the administrator of the courts shall ensure that all revenues
             266      representing the difference between the fees in effect after May 2, 1994, and the fees in effect
             267      before February 1, 1994, are transferred to the Division of Finance for deposit in the restricted
             268      account.
             269          (c) The Division of Finance shall deposit all revenues received from the court
             270      administrator into the restricted account created by this section.
             271          (d) (i) From May 1, 1995 until June 30, 1998, the administrator of the courts shall
             272      transfer $7 of the amount of a fine or bail forfeiture paid for a violation of Title 41, Motor
             273      Vehicles, in a court of record to the Division of Facilities Construction and Management
             274      Capital Projects Fund. The division of money pursuant to Section 78-3-14.5 shall be calculated
             275      on the balance of the fine or bail forfeiture paid.


             276          (ii) After June 30, 1998, the administrator of the courts or a municipality shall transfer
             277      $7 of the amount of a fine or bail forfeiture paid for a violation of Title 41, Motor Vehicles, in
             278      a court of record or an administrative traffic proceeding in accordance with Section 10-3-703.5
             279      to the Division of Finance for deposit in the restricted account created by this section. The
             280      division of money pursuant to Section 78-3-14.5 shall be calculated on the balance of the fine
             281      or bail forfeiture paid.
             282          (3) (a) There is created within the General Fund a restricted account known as the State
             283      Courts Complex Account.
             284          (b) The Legislature may appropriate monies from the restricted account to the
             285      administrator of the courts for the following purposes only:
             286          (i) to repay costs associated with the construction of the court complex that were
             287      funded from sources other than revenues provided for under this Subsection (3)(b)(i); and
             288          (ii) to cover operations and maintenance costs on the court complex.
             289          Section 13. Effective date.
             290          This act takes effect on July 1, 2003.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-27-03 10:52 AM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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