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Second Substitute H.B. 22

This document includes Senate 2nd Reading Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 10:13 AM by smaeser. -->

Senator Gregory S. Bell proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
EXPEDITED PARENT-TIME ENFORCEMENT

             2     
2008 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Julie Fisher

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Gregory S. Bell

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill S. [ expands ] converts .S the Expedited Parent-time Enforcement Program S.
             9a      [ to the entire state ] from a Pilot program to a program in the Third District Court. .S .
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    converts the Expedited Parent-time Enforcement Program from a pilot program in
             13      the Third Judicial District S. [ to a statewide program ] .S .
             14      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             15          None
             16      Other Special Clauses:
             17          This bill coordinates with S.B. 111, Revisor's Statute.
             18      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             19      AMENDS:
             20          30-3-38, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 352
             21          63-63a-8, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 3
             22     
             23      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             24          Section 1. Section 30-3-38 is amended to read:
             25           30-3-38. Expedited Parent-time Enforcement Program.


             26          (1) There is established an Expedited Parent-time Enforcement [Pilot] Program S. { [ } in the
             27      third judicial district { ] } .S to be administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts [from July
             28      1, 2003, to July 1, 2007].
             29          (2) As used in this section:
             30          (a) "Mediator" means a person who:
             31          (i) is qualified to mediate parent-time disputes under criteria established by the
             32      Administrative Office of the Courts; and
             33          (ii) agrees to follow billing guidelines established by the Administrative Office of the
             34      Courts and this section.
             35          (b) "Services to facilitate parent-time" or "services" means services designed to assist
             36      families in resolving parent-time problems through:
             37          (i) counseling;
             38          (ii) supervised parent-time;
             39          (iii) neutral drop-off and pick-up;
             40          (iv) educational classes; and
             41          (v) other related activities.
             42          (3) (a) [Under this pilot program, if] If a parent files a motion in the S. { [ } third { ] } .S
             42a      district
             43      court alleging that court-ordered parent-time rights are being violated, the clerk of the court,
             44      after assigning the case to a judge, shall refer the case to the administrator of this [pilot]
             45      program for assignment to a mediator[.], unless a parent is incarcerated or otherwise
             46      unavailable. Unless the court rules otherwise, a parent residing outside of the state is not
             47      unavailable. The director of the program for the courts, the court, or the mediator may excuse
             48      either party from the requirement to mediate for good cause.
             49          (b) Upon receipt of a case, the mediator shall:
             50          (i) meet with the parents to address parent-time issues within 15 days of the motion
             51      being filed;
             52          (ii) assess the situation;
             53          (iii) facilitate an agreement on parent-time between the parents; and
             54          (iv) determine whether a referral to a service provider under Subsection (3)(c) is
             55      warranted.
             56          (c) While a case is in mediation, a mediator may refer the parents to a service provider


             57      designated by the Department of Human Services for services to facilitate parent-time if:
             58          (i) the services may be of significant benefit to the parents; or
             59          (ii) (A) a mediated agreement between the parents is unlikely; and
             60          (B) the services may facilitate an agreement.
             61          (d) At any time during mediation, a mediator shall terminate mediation and transfer the
             62      case to the administrator of the [pilot] program for referral to the judge or court commissioner
             63      to whom the case was assigned under Subsection (3)(a) if:
             64          (i) a written agreement between the parents is reached; or
             65          (ii) the parents are unable to reach an agreement through mediation and:
             66          (A) the parents have received services to facilitate parent-time;
             67          (B) both parents object to receiving services to facilitate parent-time; or
             68          (C) the parents are unlikely to benefit from receiving services to facilitate parent-time.
             69          (e) Upon receiving a case from the administrator of the [pilot] program, a judge or
             70      court commissioner may:
             71          (i) review the agreement of the parents and, if acceptable, sign it as an order;
             72          (ii) order the parents to receive services to facilitate parent-time;
             73          (iii) proceed with the case; or
             74          (iv) take other appropriate action.
             75          (4) (a) If a parent makes a particularized allegation of physical or sexual abuse of a
             76      child who is the subject of a parent-time order against the other parent or a member of the other
             77      parent's household to a mediator or service provider, the mediator or service provider shall
             78      immediately report that information to:
             79          (i) the judge assigned to the case who may immediately issue orders and take other
             80      appropriate action to resolve the allegation and protect the child; and
             81          (ii) the Division of Child and Family Services within the Department of Human
             82      Services in the manner required by Title 62A, Chapter 4a, Part 4, Child Abuse or Neglect
             83      Reporting Requirements.
             84          (b) If an allegation under Subsection (4)(a) is made against a parent with parent-time
             85      rights or a member of that parent's household, parent-time by that parent shall, pursuant to an
             86      order of the court, be supervised until:
             87          (i) the allegation has been resolved; or


             88          (ii) a court orders otherwise.
             89          (c) Notwithstanding an allegation under Subsection (4)(a), a mediator may continue to
             90      mediate parent-time problems and a service provider may continue to provide services to
             91      facilitate parent-time unless otherwise ordered by a court.
             92          (5) (a) The Department of Human Services may contract with one or more entities in
             93      accordance with Title 63, Chapter 56, Utah Procurement Code, to provide:
             94          (i) services to facilitate parent-time;
             95          (ii) case management services; and
             96          (iii) administrative services.
             97          (b) An entity who contracts with the Department of Human Services under Subsection
             98      (5)(a) shall:
             99          (i) be qualified to provide one or more of the services listed in Subsection (5)(a); and
             100          (ii) agree to follow billing guidelines established by the Department of Human Services
             101      and this section.
             102          (6) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(b), the cost of mediation shall be:
             103          (i) reduced to a sum certain;
             104          (ii) divided equally between the parents; and
             105          (iii) charged against each parent taking into account the ability of that parent to pay
             106      under billing guidelines adopted in accordance with this section.
             107          (b) A judge may order a parent to pay an amount in excess of that provided for in
             108      Subsection (6)(a) if the parent:
             109          (i) failed to participate in good faith in mediation or services to facilitate parent-time;
             110      or
             111          (ii) made an unfounded assertion or claim of physical or sexual abuse of a child.
             112          (c) (i) The cost of mediation and services to facilitate parent-time may be charged to
             113      parents at periodic intervals.
             114          (ii) Mediation and services to facilitate parent-time may only be terminated on the
             115      ground of nonpayment if both parents are delinquent.
             116          [(7) If a parent fails to cooperate in good faith in mediation or services to facilitate
             117      parent-time, a court may order, in subsequent proceedings, a temporary change in custody or
             118      parent-time.]


             119          [(8)] (7) (a) The Judicial Council may make rules to implement and administer the
             120      provisions of this [pilot] program related to mediation.
             121          (b) The Department of Human Services may make rules to implement and administer
             122      the provisions of this [pilot] program related to services to facilitate parent-time.
             123          [(9)] (8) (a) The Administrative Office of the Courts shall adopt outcome measures to
             124      evaluate the effectiveness of the mediation component of this [pilot] program. Progress reports
             125      shall be provided to the Judiciary Interim Committee as requested by the committee. [At least
             126      once during this pilot program, the Administrative Office of the Courts shall present to the
             127      committee the results of a survey that measures the effectiveness of the program in terms of
             128      increased compliance with parent-time orders and the responses of interested persons.]
             129          (b) The Department of Human Services shall adopt outcome measures to evaluate the
             130      effectiveness of the services component of this [pilot] program. Progress reports shall be
             131      provided to the Judiciary Interim Committee as requested by the committee.
             132          (c) The Administrative Office of the Courts and the Department of Human Services
             133      may adopt joint outcome measures and file joint reports to satisfy the requirements of
             134      Subsections [(8)] (7)(a) and (b).
             135          [(10) (a)] (9) The Department of Human Services shall, by following the procedures
             136      and requirements of Title 63, Chapter 38e, Federal Funds Procedures, apply for federal funds
             137      as available.
             138          [(b) This pilot program shall be funded through funds received under Subsection
             139      (10)(a).]
             140          Section 2. Section 63-63a-8 is amended to read:
             141           63-63a-8. Children's Legal Defense Account.
             142          (1) There is created a restricted account within the General Fund known as the
             143      Children's Legal Defense Account.
             144          (2) The purpose of the Children's Legal Defense Account is to provide for programs
             145      that protect and defend the rights, safety, and quality of life of children.
             146          (3) The Legislature shall appropriate money from the account for the administrative
             147      and related costs of the following programs:
             148          (a) implementing the Mandatory Educational Course on Children's Needs for
             149      Divorcing Parents relating to the effects of divorce on children as provided in Sections 30-3-4 ,


             150      30-3-7 , 30-3-10.3 , 30-3-11.3 , 30-3-15.3 , and 30-3-18 , and the Mediation Pilot Program - Child
             151      Custody or Parent-time as provided in Sections 30-3-15.3 and 30-3-18 ;
             152          (b) implementing the use of guardians ad litem as provided in Sections 30-3-5.2 ,
             153      78A-6-321 , 78A-6-902 , 78B-3-102 , and 78A-2-227 ; the training of guardian ad litems and
             154      volunteers as provided in Section 78A-6-902 ; and termination of parental rights as provided in
             155      Sections 78A-6-117 , 78A-6-118 , and 78A-6-1103 , and Title 78A, Chapter 6, Part 5,
             156      Termination of Parental Rights Act. This account may not be used to supplant funding for the
             157      guardian ad litem program in the juvenile court as provided in Section 78A-6-902 ; and
             158          (c) implementing and administering the Expedited Parent-time Enforcement [Pilot]
             159      Program as provided in Section 30-3-38 .
             160          (4) The following withheld fees shall be allocated only to the Children's Legal Defense
             161      Account and used only for the purposes provided in Subsections (3)(a) through (c):
             162          (a) the additional $10 fee withheld on every marriage license issued in the state of Utah
             163      as provided in Section 17-16-21 ; and
             164          (b) a fee of $4 shall be withheld from the existing civil filing fee collected on any
             165      complaint, affidavit, or petition in a civil, probate, or adoption matter in every court of record.
             166          (5) The Division of Finance shall allocate the monies described in Subsection (4) from
             167      the General Fund to the Children's Legal Defense Account.
             168          (6) Any funds in excess of $200,000 remaining in the restricted account as of June 30
             169      of any fiscal year shall lapse into the General Fund.
             170          Section 3. Coordinating H.B. 22 with S.B. 111.
             171          If this H.B. 22 and S.B. 111, Revisor's Statute, both pass, it is the intent of the
             172      Legislature that Section 30-3-38 not be repealed and the amendments in this H.B. 22 take
             173      effect.


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