First Substitute H.B. 56

Representative Peggy Wallace proposes the following substitute bill:

1 DIVORCE TASK FORCE
2 2005 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Peggy Wallace
5
6 LONG TITLE
7 General Description:
8 This bill creates the Divorce Task Force.
9 Highlighted Provisions:
10 This bill:
11 . creates the Divorce Task Force to study issues related to divorce, including:
12 . causes of divorce, including:
13 . domestic violence;
14 . irreconcilable differences;
15 . pornography in the home with minors;
16 . waiting periods before a divorce is final; and
17 . the costs of divorce.
18 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
19 This bill appropriates:
20 . $5,760 to the Senate; and
21 . $7,200 to the House of Representatives.
22 Other Special Clauses:
23 This bill is repealed on November 30, 2005.
24 Uncodified Material Affected:
25 ENACTS UNCODIFIED MATERIAL

26
27 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
28 Section 1. Divorce Task Force -- Creation -- Membership -- Interim rules followed
29 -- Compensation -- Staff.
30 (1) There is created the Divorce Task Force consisting of the following nine members:
31 (a) four members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate, no more than
32 three of whom may be from the same political party; and
33 (b) five members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the
34 House of Representatives, no more than three of whom may be from the same political party.
35 (2) (a) The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed
36 under Subsection (1)(a) as a cochair of the task force.
37 (b) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House
38 of Representatives appointed under Subsection (1)(b) as a cochair of the task force.
39 (3) In conducting its business, the task force shall comply with the rules of legislative
40 interim committees.
41 (4) Salaries and expenses of the members of the task force shall be paid in accordance
42 with Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rule 15.03.
43 (5) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide staff support
44 to the task force.
45 Section 2. Duties -- Interim report.
46 (1) The task force shall study, review, and make recommendations on the following
47 issues:
48 (a) the causes of divorce, specifically addressing the following reasons:
49 (i) irreconcilable differences;
50 (ii) domestic violence;
51 (iii) pornography in the home with minors; and
52 (iv) the specific provisions of H.B. 56, Divorce Amendments, from the 2005 General
53 Session;
54 (b) whether a separate track system for divorces would facilitate the divorce process in
55 the courts, particularly with regard to domestic violence;
56 (c) the actual costs to the court system of divorces and whether it is feasible to require

57 the parties to share more of the burden; and
58 (d) the feasibility of adjusting the waiting period before a divorce can become final.
59 (2) A final report, including any proposed legislation shall be presented to the Judiciary
60 Interim Committee before November 30,2005.
61 Section 3. Appropriation.
62 There is appropriated from the General Fund for fiscal year 2005-06 only:
63 (1) $5,760 to the Senate to pay for the compensation and expenses of senators on the
64 task force; and
65 (2) $7,200 to the House of Representatives to pay for the compensation and expenses
66 of representatives on the task force.
67 Section 4. Repeal date.
68 This bill is repealed on November 30, 2005.