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H.B. 222

             1     

PILOT PROGRAM REPEAL CLEAN-UP

             2     
2005 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: Ross I. Romero

             5     
             6      LONG TITLE
             7      General Description:
             8          This bill repeals sanctions for a pilot program no longer in existence.
             9      Highlighted Provisions:
             10          This bill:
             11          .    repeals the sanctions for a pilot program that no longer exists; and
             12          .    makes technical cross-reference changes.
             13      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             14          None
             15      Other Special Clauses:
             16          None
             17      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             18      AMENDS:
             19          30-3-5, as last amended by Chapter 176, Laws of Utah 2003
             20          30-5-2, as last amended by Chapter 85, Laws of Utah 2002
             21          78-32-12.1, as last amended by Chapter 255, Laws of Utah 2001
             22      REPEALS:
             23          78-32-12.2, as last amended by Chapter 255, Laws of Utah 2001
             24     
             25      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             26          Section 1. Section 30-3-5 is amended to read:
             27           30-3-5. Disposition of property -- Maintenance and health care of parties and


             28      children -- Division of debts -- Court to have continuing jurisdiction -- Custody and
             29      parent-time -- Determination of alimony -- Nonmeritorious petition for modification.
             30          (1) When a decree of divorce is rendered, the court may include in it equitable orders
             31      relating to the children, property, debts or obligations, and parties. The court shall include the
             32      following in every decree of divorce:
             33          (a) an order assigning responsibility for the payment of reasonable and necessary
             34      medical and dental expenses of the dependent children;
             35          (b) if coverage is or becomes available at a reasonable cost, an order requiring the
             36      purchase and maintenance of appropriate health, hospital, and dental care insurance for the
             37      dependent children;
             38          (c) pursuant to Section 15-4-6.5 :
             39          (i) an order specifying which party is responsible for the payment of joint debts,
             40      obligations, or liabilities of the parties contracted or incurred during marriage;
             41          (ii) an order requiring the parties to notify respective creditors or obligees, regarding
             42      the court's division of debts, obligations, or liabilities and regarding the parties' separate,
             43      current addresses; and
             44          (iii) provisions for the enforcement of these orders; and
             45          (d) provisions for income withholding in accordance with Title 62A, Chapter 11,
             46      Recovery Services.
             47          (2) The court may include, in an order determining child support, an order assigning
             48      financial responsibility for all or a portion of child care expenses incurred on behalf of the
             49      dependent children, necessitated by the employment or training of the custodial parent. If the
             50      court determines that the circumstances are appropriate and that the dependent children would
             51      be adequately cared for, it may include an order allowing the noncustodial parent to provide
             52      child care for the dependent children, necessitated by the employment or training of the
             53      custodial parent.
             54          (3) The court has continuing jurisdiction to make subsequent changes or new orders for
             55      the custody of the children and their support, maintenance, health, and dental care, and for
             56      distribution of the property and obligations for debts as is reasonable and necessary.
             57          (4) Child support, custody, visitation, and other matters related to children born to the
             58      mother and father after entry of the decree of divorce may be added to the decree by


             59      modification.
             60          (5) (a) In determining parent-time rights of parents and visitation rights of grandparents
             61      and other members of the immediate family, the court shall consider the best interest of the
             62      child.
             63          (b) Upon a specific finding by the court of the need for peace officer enforcement, the
             64      court may include in an order establishing a parent-time or visitation schedule a provision,
             65      among other things, authorizing any peace officer to enforce a court-ordered parent-time or
             66      visitation schedule entered under this chapter.
             67          (6) If a petition for modification of child custody or parent-time provisions of a court
             68      order is made and denied, the court shall order the petitioner to pay the reasonable attorneys'
             69      fees expended by the prevailing party in that action, if the court determines that the petition
             70      was without merit and not asserted or defended against in good faith.
             71          (7) If a petition alleges [substantial] noncompliance with a parent-time order by a
             72      parent, or a visitation order by a grandparent or other member of the immediate family
             73      [pursuant to Section 78-32-12.2 ] where a visitation or parent-time right has been previously
             74      granted by the court, the court may award to the prevailing party costs, including actual
             75      attorney fees and court costs incurred by the prevailing party because of the other party's failure
             76      to provide or exercise court-ordered visitation or parent-time.
             77          (8) (a) The court shall consider at least the following factors in determining alimony:
             78          (i) the financial condition and needs of the recipient spouse;
             79          (ii) the recipient's earning capacity or ability to produce income;
             80          (iii) the ability of the payor spouse to provide support;
             81          (iv) the length of the marriage;
             82          (v) whether the recipient spouse has custody of minor children requiring support;
             83          (vi) whether the recipient spouse worked in a business owned or operated by the payor
             84      spouse; and
             85          (vii) whether the recipient spouse directly contributed to any increase in the payor
             86      spouse's skill by paying for education received by the payor spouse or allowing the payor
             87      spouse to attend school during the marriage.
             88          (b) The court may consider the fault of the parties in determining alimony.
             89          (c) As a general rule, the court should look to the standard of living, existing at the


             90      time of separation, in determining alimony in accordance with Subsection (8)(a). However, the
             91      court shall consider all relevant facts and equitable principles and may, in its discretion, base
             92      alimony on the standard of living that existed at the time of trial. In marriages of short
             93      duration, when no children have been conceived or born during the marriage, the court may
             94      consider the standard of living that existed at the time of the marriage.
             95          (d) The court may, under appropriate circumstances, attempt to equalize the parties'
             96      respective standards of living.
             97          (e) When a marriage of long duration dissolves on the threshold of a major change in
             98      the income of one of the spouses due to the collective efforts of both, that change shall be
             99      considered in dividing the marital property and in determining the amount of alimony. If one
             100      spouse's earning capacity has been greatly enhanced through the efforts of both spouses during
             101      the marriage, the court may make a compensating adjustment in dividing the marital property
             102      and awarding alimony.
             103          (f) In determining alimony when a marriage of short duration dissolves, and no
             104      children have been conceived or born during the marriage, the court may consider restoring
             105      each party to the condition which existed at the time of the marriage.
             106          (g) (i) The court has continuing jurisdiction to make substantive changes and new
             107      orders regarding alimony based on a substantial material change in circumstances not
             108      foreseeable at the time of the divorce.
             109          (ii) The court may not modify alimony or issue a new order for alimony to address
             110      needs of the recipient that did not exist at the time the decree was entered, unless the court
             111      finds extenuating circumstances that justify that action.
             112          (iii) In determining alimony, the income of any subsequent spouse of the payor may not
             113      be considered, except as provided in this Subsection (8).
             114          (A) The court may consider the subsequent spouse's financial ability to share living
             115      expenses.
             116          (B) The court may consider the income of a subsequent spouse if the court finds that
             117      the payor's improper conduct justifies that consideration.
             118          (h) Alimony may not be ordered for a duration longer than the number of years that the
             119      marriage existed unless, at any time prior to termination of alimony, the court finds extenuating
             120      circumstances that justify the payment of alimony for a longer period of time.


             121          (9) Unless a decree of divorce specifically provides otherwise, any order of the court
             122      that a party pay alimony to a former spouse automatically terminates upon the remarriage or
             123      death of that former spouse. However, if the remarriage is annulled and found to be void ab
             124      initio, payment of alimony shall resume if the party paying alimony is made a party to the
             125      action of annulment and his rights are determined.
             126          (10) Any order of the court that a party pay alimony to a former spouse terminates
             127      upon establishment by the party paying alimony that the former spouse is cohabitating with
             128      another person.
             129          Section 2. Section 30-5-2 is amended to read:
             130           30-5-2. Visitation rights of grandparents.
             131          (1) Grandparents have standing to bring an action in district court by petition,
             132      requesting visitation in accordance with the provisions and requirements of this section.
             133      Grandparents may also file a petition for visitation rights in a pending divorce proceeding or
             134      other proceeding involving custody and visitation issues.
             135          (2) There is a rebuttable presumption that a parent's decision with regard to
             136      grandparent visitation is in the grandchild's best interests. However, the court may override the
             137      parent's decision and grant the petitioner reasonable rights of visitation if the court finds that
             138      the petitioner has rebutted the presumption based upon factors which the court considers to be
             139      relevant, such as whether:
             140          (a) the petitioner is a fit and proper person to have visitation with the grandchild;
             141          (b) visitation with the grandchild has been denied or unreasonably limited;
             142          (c) the parent is unfit or incompetent;
             143          (d) the petitioner has acted as the grandchild's custodian or caregiver, or otherwise has
             144      had a substantial relationship with the grandchild, and the loss or cessation of that relationship
             145      is likely to cause harm to the grandchild;
             146          (e) the petitioner's child, who is a parent of the grandchild, has died, or has become a
             147      noncustodial parent through divorce or legal separation;
             148          (f) the petitioner's child, who is a parent of the grandchild, has been missing for an
             149      extended period of time; or
             150          (g) visitation is in the best interest of the grandchild.
             151          (3) The adoption of a grandchild by the grandchild's stepparent does not diminish or


             152      alter visitation rights previously ordered under this section.
             153          (4) Subject to the provisions of Subsections (2) and (3), the court may inquire of the
             154      grandchild and take into account the grandchild's desires regarding visitation.
             155          (5) On the petition of a grandparent or the legal custodian of a grandchild the court
             156      may, after a hearing, modify an order regarding grandparent visitation if:
             157          (a) the circumstances of the grandchild, the grandparent, or the custodian have
             158      materially and substantially changed since the entry of the order to be modified, or the order
             159      has become unworkable or inappropriate under existing circumstances; and
             160          (b) the court determines that a modification is appropriate based upon the factors set
             161      forth in Subsection (2).
             162          (6) Grandparents may petition the court [as provided in Section 78-32-12.2 ] to remedy
             163      a parent's wrongful noncompliance with a visitation order.
             164          Section 3. Section 78-32-12.1 is amended to read:
             165           78-32-12.1. Compensatory service for violation of parent-time order or failure to
             166      pay child support.
             167          (1) If a court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that a parent has refused to
             168      comply with the minimum amount of parent-time ordered in a decree of divorce, the court shall
             169      order the parent to:
             170          (a) perform a minimum of ten hours of compensatory service; and
             171          (b) participate in workshops, classes, or individual counseling to educate the parent
             172      about the importance of complying with the court order and providing a child a continuing
             173      relationship with both parents.
             174          (2) If a custodial parent is ordered to perform compensatory service or undergo
             175      court-ordered education, there is a rebuttable presumption that the noncustodial parent be
             176      granted parent-time by the court to provide child care during the time the custodial parent is
             177      complying with compensatory service or education in order to recompense him for parent-time
             178      wrongfully denied by the custodial parent under the divorce decree.
             179          (3) If a noncustodial parent is ordered to perform compensatory service or undergo
             180      court-ordered education, the court shall attempt to schedule the compensatory service or
             181      education at times that will not interfere with the noncustodial parent's parent-time with the
             182      child.


             183          (4) The person ordered to participate in court-ordered education is responsible for
             184      expenses of workshops, classes, and individual counseling.
             185          (5) If a court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that an obligor, as defined in
             186      Section 78-45-2 , has refused to pay child support as ordered by a court in accordance with Title
             187      78, Chapter 45, Uniform Civil Liability for Support Act, the court shall order the obligor to:
             188          (a) perform a minimum of ten hours of compensatory service; and
             189          (b) participate in workshops, classes, or individual counseling to educate the obligor
             190      about the importance of complying with the court order and providing the children with a
             191      regular and stable source of support.
             192          (6) The obligor is responsible for the expenses of workshops, classes, and individual
             193      counseling ordered by the court.
             194          (7) If a court orders an obligor to perform compensatory service or undergo
             195      court-ordered education, the court shall attempt to schedule the compensatory service or
             196      education at times that will not interfere with the obligor's parent-time with the child.
             197          (8) The sanctions that the court shall impose under this section do not prevent the court
             198      from imposing other sanctions [as provided in Section 78-32-12.2 or other provisions in this
             199      chapter,] or prevent any person from bringing a cause of action allowed under state or federal
             200      law.
             201          (9) The Legislature shall allocate the money from the Children's Legal Defense
             202      Account to the judiciary to defray the cost of enforcing and administering this section.
             203          Section 4. Repealer.
             204          This bill repeals:
             205          Section 78-32-12.2, Definitions -- Sanctions.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-18-05 4:58 PM


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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