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MINUTES OF THE

HOUSE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING

Room W010 - State Capitol Complex

February 10, 2006

MEMBERS PRESENT:
    Rep. James A. Ferrin, Chair
        Rep. Erik K. Hutchings, Vice Chair    
        Rep. Douglas C. Aagard
        Rep. Ben C. Ferry
        Rep. Glenn A. Donnelson        
        Rep. Lorie D. Fowlke
        Rep. Neal B. Hendrickson
        Rep. David L. Hogue
        Rep. Susan Lawrence
        Rep. Rosalind J. McGee
        Rep. Scott L. Wyatt

MEMBERS ABSENT:    Rep. Ann W. Hardy
        Rep. Ross Romero        
        
STAFF PRESENT:    Jerry D. Howe, Policy Analyst
        Sylvia Newton, Committee Secretary    

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

Representative Ferrin called the meeting to order at 3:23 p.m.

MOTION:    Rep. Hogue moved to approve the minutes of the February 9, 2006 meeting. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Donnelson and Rep. Ferry absent for the vote.

H.B. 333    Antitrust Exemption (Rep. R. Wheeler)

MOTION:    Rep. Wyatt moved to delete in title and body H.B. 333 and replace it with 1st Sub. H.B. 333. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Donnelson and Rep. Ferry absent for the vote.

Rep. Wheeler introduced 1st Sub. H.B. 333 and explained it to the committee. He was assisted by Reed Searle, General Manager, Intermountain Power Agency.

MOTION:    Rep. Hogue moved to pass 1st Sub. H.B. 333 out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Donnelson and Rep. Ferry absent for the vote.

MOTION:    Rep. Hogue moved to place 1st Sub. H.B. 333 on the Consent Calendar. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Donnelson and Rep. Ferry absent for the vote.


S.B. 62    Judicial Conduct Commission Amendments (Sen. M. Waddoups)

Sen Waddoups introduced S.B. 62 and explained it to the committee.

MOTION:    Rep. Hogue moved to pass the bill out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Ferry absent for the vote.

H.B. 180    Divorce Orientation (Rep. L. Fowlke)

MOTION:    Rep. Fowlke moved to amend H.B. 180 as follows:

1.    Page 2, Lines 41 through 43 :    

             41          (2) The clerk of the court shall provide to a petitioner who attempts to file a
{   complaint   }        petition      

             42      for divorce without the certificate of completion, a list of providers certified to provide divorce
             43      orientation and a copy of this section.

2.    Page 3, Lines 62 through 65 :    

             62          (c) marriage and family therapists licensed under Title 58, Chapter 60, Part 2, Social
             63      Worker Licensing Act, Part 3, Marriage and Family Therapist Licensing Act, Part 4,
             64      Professional Counselor Licensing Act, or Title 58, Chapter 61, Psychologist Licensing Act
  , or an unlicensed therapist acting under the supervision of a certified marriage and family therapist       ;    

             65          (d) any member of the clergy
  , or a person acting under the supervision of a certified member of the clergy       ;


3.    Page 3, Lines 86 through 88 :    

             86          (11)
  In the event a temporary restraining order is requested in conjunction with a divorce petition, the petitioner shall take the divorce orientation course within 30 days of filing the petition.

    (12)  
It shall be an affirmative defense in all divorce actions that the prefiling

             87      requirements were not complied with, and the action may not continue until the petitioner has
             88      complied.

The motion to amend the bill passed unanimously with Rep. Ferry, Rep. Hendrickson, and Rep. Lawrence absent for the vote.



Rep. Fowlke introduced H.B. 180 as amended and explained it to the committee.

MOTION:    Rep. Hendrickson moved to pass the bill as amended out favorably. The motion passed with Rep. Donnelson, Rep. Lawrence, Rep. Wyatt, and Rep. Ferrin voting in opposition to the motion. Rep. Ferry and Rep. Hogue were absent for the vote.

H.B. 360    Child Support Bond (Rep. L. Fowlke)

MOTION:    Rep. Fowlke moved to amend H.B. 360 as follows:

1.    Page 1, Line 24 through Page 3, Line 67 :    

             24          78-32-17. Noncompliance with child support order.
* * * Some lines not shown * * *

             44          (4) A court may, in addition to other available sanctions[,]:
             45          (a) withhold, suspend, or restrict the use of driver's licenses, professional and
             46      occupational licenses, and recreational licenses and impose conditions for reinstatement upon a
             47      finding that:
* * * Some lines not shown * * *

             64          [(c)] (iii) an obligor or obligee, after receiving appropriate notice, has failed to comply
             65      with a subpoena or order relating to a paternity or child support proceeding[.];
{   and   }

             66          (b) require the obligor to post a bond in an amount
{   equal to the total of 12 months   }        up to three years       of

             67      child support payments
  ; or

    (c) in a final decree of divorce, upon a showing of a history of nonpayment or sporadic payment during the separation period, order the obligor parent to post a bond in an amount of up to three years of child support payments  
.


The motion to amend the bill passed unanimously with Rep. Ferry, Rep. Hendrickson, and Rep. Hogue absent for the vote.

Rep. Fowlke introduced H.B. 360 as amended and explained it to the committee.

Spoke in favor of the bill:    Paul Mero, Sutherland Institute

MOTION:    Rep. Aagard moved to pass the bill as amended out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hogue and Rep. Wyatt absent for the vote.



H.B. 382    Parentage Act Amendments (Rep. L. Fowlke)

MOTION:    Rep. Fowlke moved to amend H.B. 382 as follows:

1.    Page 2, Lines 45 through 47 :    

             45          (1) Within ten days of the issuance of a birth certificate under Subsection
             46      78-45g-807 (1)(c), an affidavit regarding fees and expenses
{   , signed by all parties to the

             47      gestational agreement,  
}
shall be filed with the tribunal.
  The affidavit shall contain the case number and be signed by counsel for the petitioners.      


The motion to amend the bill passed unanimously with Rep. Hogue and Rep. Wyatt absent for the vote.

Rep. Fowlke introduced H.B. 382 as amended and explained it to the committee.

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

Spoke in favor of the bill:    Stewart Ralphs, Legal Aid Society

MOTION:    Rep. Ferry moved to pass H.B. 382 as amended out favorably. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hogue and Rep. Wyatt absent for the vote.

Rep. Donnelson moved to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Hogue and Rep. Wyatt absent for the vote.

Rep. Ferrin adjourned the meeting at 4:41 p.m.




                ___________________________________
                    Rep. James A. Ferrin, Chair