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First Substitute H.B. 169

Representative Tim M. Cosgrove proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
CUSTODY EVALUATION AND PARENT

             2     
COORDINATION

             3     
2008 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Tim M. Cosgrove

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Scott D. McCoy

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill creates the Child Custody Evaluation Act and the Parent Coordination Act.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    creates the Child Custody Evaluation Act, which:
             14              .    sets standards for education and training of child custody evaluators;
             15              .    requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to maintain a list of qualified
             16      child custody evaluators;
             17              .    requires the court in a divorce, separation, or child custody matter to select an
             18      evaluator from the Administrative Office of the Courts' list; and
             19              .    allows the court to divide the evaluator's fees equitably between the parties; and
             20          .    creates the Parent Coordination Act, which:
             21              .    sets standards for education and training of parent coordinators;
             22              .    requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to maintain a list of qualified
             23      parent coordinators;
             24              .    sets standards for decision-making responsibilities of parent coordinators;
             25              .    requires the court to specify a time period for the parent coordinator; and


             26              .    allows the court to divide the coordinator's fees equitably between the parties.
             27      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             28          None
             29      Other Special Clauses:
             30          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2009.
             31      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             32      ENACTS:
             33          30-10-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             34          30-10-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             35          30-10-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             36          30-10-104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             37          30-10-105, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             38          30-10-106, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             39          30-11-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             40          30-11-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             41          30-11-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             42          30-11-104, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             43          30-11-105, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             44          30-11-106, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             45     
             46      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             47          Section 1. Section 30-10-101 is enacted to read:
             48     
CHAPTER 10. CHILD CUSTODY EVALUATION ACT

             49          30-10-101. Title.
             50          This chapter is known as the "Child Custody Evaluation Act."
             51          Section 2. Section 30-10-102 is enacted to read:
             52          30-10-102. Definitions.
             53          As used in this chapter:
             54          (1) "Custody evaluation" means a process where information is gathered by a custody
             55      evaluator from parties to a divorce, separation, or custody proceeding which is used to provide
             56      the court with information it can use to make decisions regarding custody and parenting time


             57      arrangements that are in the child's best interest.
             58          (2) "Custody evaluator" means a person who performs custody evaluations.
             59          (3) "Party" means either the petitioner or respondent, or their respective attorneys, in an
             60      action for separation, divorce, or custody of a minor child.
             61          Section 3. Section 30-10-103 is enacted to read:
             62          30-10-103. Qualifications and training.
             63          (1) Subject to meeting the educational, training, and continuing education requirements
             64      in Subsection (2), the following persons may conduct custody evaluations in response to a
             65      request from a court:
             66          (a) social workers with the designation of Licensed Clinical Social Worker or
             67      equivalent license by the state in which they practice;
             68          (b) doctoral level psychologists who are licensed by the state in which they practice;
             69          (c) physicians who are board certified in psychiatry and are licensed by the state in
             70      which they practice; or
             71          (d) marriage and family therapists who hold the designation of Licensed Marriage and
             72      Family Therapist or equivalent license by the state in which they practice.
             73          (2) Licensed professionals in Subsection (1) shall have:
             74          (a) a minimum of a master's degree in a mental health field that includes:
             75          (i) formal education and training in child development, child and adult
             76      psychopathology, interviewing techniques, and family systems; and
             77          (ii) by formal education or by supervised work experience, advanced knowledge of the
             78      complexities of the divorce or separation process, a working knowledge of the legal issues in
             79      divorce or separation, and an understanding of the legal, social, familial, and cultural issues
             80      involved in custody decisions;
             81          (b) initial training totaling a minimum of 12 hours, and eight hours annually of
             82      continuing education, specific to custody evaluation; and
             83          (c) at least 24 hours of initial training, and 16 hours annually of continuing education,
             84      on domestic violence.
             85          Section 4. Section 30-10-104 is enacted to read:
             86          30-10-104. Court responsibilities.
             87          (1) The Administrative Office of the Courts shall maintain an approved list of custody


             88      evaluators who have met the qualifications in Section 30-10-103 .
             89          (2) If the court determines that a custody evaluator is needed in an action, the court
             90      shall appoint an evaluator from a list of court-approved evaluators.
             91          (3) A child custody evaluator appointed in accordance with this chapter may not also
             92      be appointed as a special master in accordance with URCP 53 or a parenting coordinator
             93      appointed in accordance with Title 30, Chapter 11, Parent Coordination Act, in an action
             94      involving the same parties.
             95          (4) All custody evaluations shall be conducted in accordance with Code of Judicial
             96      Administration, Rule 4-903.
             97          Section 5. Section 30-10-105 is enacted to read:
             98          30-10-105. Custody evaluator responsibilities.
             99          A custody evaluator shall:
             100          (1) accept cases referred by the court without regard to the financial situation of the
             101      parties;
             102          (2) review with each party the custody evaluator's policies and procedures, including
             103      fees, for conducting an evaluation;
             104          (3) provide the court with copies of all written documentation and reports; and
             105          (4) note in the final report provided to the court, any missing or incomplete
             106      information.
             107          Section 6. Section 30-10-106 is enacted to read:
             108          30-10-106. Fees and costs.
             109          (1) A child custody evaluator shall provide to the parties and the court an itemized
             110      accounting of all amounts charged.
             111          (2) The court shall consider the financial situation of both parties in determining
             112      payment for the custody evaluator's services, and make a final determination on the record of
             113      the amounts each party is responsible for paying.
             114          Section 7. Section 30-11-101 is enacted to read:
             115     
CHAPTER 11. PARENT COORDINATION ACT

             116          30-11-101. Title.
             117          This chapter shall be known as the "Parent Coordination Act."
             118          Section 8. Section 30-11-102 is enacted to read:


             119          30-11-102. Definitions.
             120          As used in this chapter:
             121          (1) "Parent coordinator" means a person appointed by the court to minimize trauma to
             122      the children of divorce by resolving custody-related disputes between the parents within the
             123      scope of the court's order.
             124          (2) "Party" means the petitioner, respondent, or their respective attorneys in an action
             125      for separation, divorce, or child custody.
             126          Section 9. Section 30-11-103 is enacted to read:
             127          30-11-103. Qualifications and training.
             128          (1) Subject to meeting the educational and training requirements in Subsection (2), the
             129      following persons may be appointed by a court as a parent coordinator:
             130          (a) a doctoral level psychologist who is licensed by the state in which they practice;
             131          (b) a legal professional who is licensed by the state in which they practice;
             132          (c) a certified family mediator with a master's degree in a mental health field; or
             133          (d) social workers with the designation of Licensed Clinical Social Worker or
             134      equivalent license by the state in which they practice;
             135          (2) Parent coordinators shall have:
             136          (a) formal training or advanced knowledge in child development, child and adult
             137      psychopathology, interviewing techniques, and family systems;
             138          (b) advanced knowledge of the complexities of the divorce or separation process, a
             139      working knowledge of the legal issues in divorce or separation, and an understanding of the
             140      legal, social, familial, and cultural issues involved in a proceeding relating to child custody;
             141          (c) advanced experience and knowledge in family mediation, and, preferably, be a
             142      certified family mediator according to court rule;
             143          (d) advanced experience with high conflict or litigating parents;
             144          (e) a minimum of 40 hours of initial training which includes training in parent
             145      coordination, family dynamics in separation and divorce, domestic violence, child abuse, and
             146      court specific parenting procedures; and
             147          (f) an additional 20 hours of specialized training which includes maintenance of
             148      professional competence in the parenting coordination process.
             149          Section 10. Section 30-11-104 is enacted to read:


             150          30-11-104. Court responsibilities.
             151          (1) The Administrative Office of the Courts shall maintain an approved list of parent
             152      coordinators who have met the qualifications in this chapter.
             153          (2) If the court determines that a parent coordinator is needed, the court, after
             154      consultation with both parties, shall appoint a coordinator from the list maintained by the
             155      Administrative Office of the Courts.
             156          (3) A parent coordinator may decline appointment if the case is beyond the parent
             157      coordinator's skill or expertise.
             158          (4) The court order appointing a parent coordinator shall:
             159          (a) require the coordinator to work with the parties in order to create workable
             160      solutions to disputes that will, in time, lessen the need for a parent coordinator;
             161          (b) allow the coordinator to make recommendations and decisions necessary to allow
             162      as little disruption in the children's home and routine as possible, yet carry out specific court
             163      orders regarding parent-time; and
             164          (c) provide a term of service for the parent coordinator, including start and end dates.
             165          (5) Upon the expiration of the parent coordinator's term of service, one or both parents
             166      may request the coordinator continue for additional time. The court shall determine whether
             167      the coordinator may continue and set a specific length of time if the decision is made to
             168      continue the coordinator.
             169          (6) If one parent requests additional time and the other parent declines, the court shall
             170      determine the matter.
             171          Section 11. Section 30-11-105 is enacted to read:
             172          30-11-105. Parent coordinator responsibilities.
             173          (1) The parent coordinator's primary role is to assist the parties impartially to work out
             174      disagreements regarding their children to minimize conflict.
             175          (2) The parent coordinator shall report suspected child abuse or neglect to the proper
             176      agency.
             177          (3) The parent coordinator shall communicate decisions in a timely manner in person
             178      or by fax, e-mail, or telephone. In the event decisions are provided orally, a written version
             179      shall follow in a timely manner.
             180          (4) The parent coordinator shall discuss with both parties all policies, procedures, fees,


             181      and standards for decision-making. In addition, each party shall be given a copy of the court's
             182      order to the coordinator.
             183          (5) A parent coordinator may not serve in multiple roles in the same case.
             184          (6) The parent coordinator shall make every effort to avoid conflicts of interest and
             185      shall disclose any conflicts to the court and all parties involved in the case.
             186          (7) The parent coordinator shall provide a report to the court at intervals determined by
             187      the court, and a final report upon the expiration of the coordinator's term.
             188          Section 12. Section 30-11-106 is enacted to read:
             189          30-11-106. Fees and costs.
             190          (1) The parent coordinator shall provide to the court and the parties an itemized
             191      accounting of all amounts charged.
             192          (2) The court shall make an initial determination of each party's share of the parent
             193      coordinator's fees. It shall consider the financial situation of both parties in determining
             194      payment for the parent coordinator's services. Upon the termination of the parent coordinator's
             195      services, the court shall make a final determination on the record of any outstanding amounts
             196      each party is responsible for paying.
             197          Section 13. Effective date.
             198          This bill takes effect on July 1, 2009.


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