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H.B. 448

             1     

CUSTODY MODIFICATIONS

             2     
2012 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Gregory H. Hughes

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends provisions governing the relocation of a custodial parent with a minor
             10      child or children.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    requires the court to hold a hearing if a motion is filed by noncustodial parent when
             14      the custodial parent intends to relocate more than 150 miles or more from the
             15      residence specified in the court decree;
             16          .    requires the court to determine that a move of more than 150 miles is in the best
             17      interest of the child; and
             18          .    allows the court to modify custody arrangements if a custodial parent decides to
             19      move more than 150 miles when the court has determined that the move is not in
             20      the best interest of the child.
             21      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             22          None
             23      Other Special Clauses:
             24          None
             25      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             26      AMENDS:
             27          30-3-37, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 228


             28     
             29      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             30          Section 1. Section 30-3-37 is amended to read:
             31           30-3-37. Relocation.
             32          (1) For purposes of this section, "relocation" means moving 150 miles or more from
             33      the residence specified in the court's decree.
             34          (2) The relocating parent shall provide, if possible, 60 days advance written notice of
             35      the intended relocation to the other parent. The written notice of relocation shall contain
             36      statements affirming the following:
             37          (a) the parent-time provisions in Subsection (5) or a schedule approved by both parties
             38      will be followed; and
             39          (b) neither parent will interfere with the other's parental rights pursuant to court
             40      ordered parent-time arrangements, or the schedule approved by both parties.
             41          (3) The court [may] shall, upon motion of any party or upon the court's own motion,
             42      schedule a hearing with notice to review the notice of relocation and parent-time schedule as
             43      provided in Section 30-3-35 and make appropriate orders regarding the parent-time and costs
             44      for parent-time transportation.
             45          (4) [In determining] In a hearing to review the notice of relocation, the court shall
             46      determine if the relocation of a custodial parent is in the best interest of the child. If the court
             47      determines that relocation is not in the best interest of the child, and the custodial parent
             48      relocates, the court may order a change of custody.
             49          (5) If the court finds that the relocation is in the best interest of the child, the court shall
             50      determine the parent-time schedule and [allocating] allocate the transportation costs[, the] that
             51      will be incurred for the child to visit the noncustodial parent. In making its determination,
             52      court shall consider:
             53          (a) the reason for the parent's relocation;
             54          (b) the additional costs or difficulty to both parents in exercising parent-time;
             55          (c) the economic resources of both parents; and
             56          (d) other factors the court considers necessary and relevant.
             57          [(5)] (6) Unless otherwise ordered by the court, upon the relocation, as defined in
             58      Subsection (1), of one of the parties the following schedule shall be the minimum requirements


             59      for parent-time with a school-age child:
             60          (a) in years ending in an odd number, the child shall spend the following holidays with
             61      the noncustodial parent:
             62          (i) Thanksgiving holiday beginning Wednesday until Sunday; and
             63          (ii) Spring break, if applicable, beginning the last day of school before the holiday until
             64      the day before school resumes;
             65          (b) in years ending in an even number, the child shall spend the following holidays
             66      with the noncustodial parent:
             67          (i) the entire winter school break period; and
             68          (ii) the Fall school break beginning the last day of school before the holiday until the
             69      day before school resumes;
             70          (c) extended parent-time equal to 1/2 of the summer or off-track time for consecutive
             71      weeks. The children should be returned to the custodial home no later than seven days before
             72      school begins; however, this week shall be counted when determining the amount of
             73      parent-time to be divided between the parents for the summer or off-track period; and
             74          (d) one weekend per month, at the option and expense of the noncustodial parent.
             75          [(6)] (7) The noncustodial parent's monthly weekend entitlement is subject to the
             76      following restrictions.
             77          (a) If the noncustodial parent has not designated a specific weekend for parent-time,
             78      the noncustodial parent shall receive the last weekend of each month unless a holiday assigned
             79      to the custodial parent falls on that particular weekend. If a holiday assigned to the custodial
             80      parent falls on the last weekend of the month, the noncustodial parent shall be entitled to the
             81      next to the last weekend of the month.
             82          (b) If a noncustodial parent's extended parent-time or parent-time over a holiday
             83      extends into or through the first weekend of the next month, that weekend shall be considered
             84      the noncustodial parent's monthly weekend entitlement for that month.
             85          (c) If a child is out of school for teacher development days or snow days after the
             86      children begin the school year, or other days not included in the list of holidays in Subsection
             87      [(5)] (6) and those days are contiguous with the noncustodial parent's monthly weekend
             88      parent-time, those days shall be included in the weekend parent-time.
             89          [(7)] (8) The custodial parent is entitled to all parent-time not specifically allocated to


             90      the noncustodial parent.
             91          [(8)] (9) In the event finances and distance preclude the exercise of minimum
             92      parent-time for the noncustodial parent during the school year, the court should consider
             93      awarding more time for the noncustodial parent during the summer time if it is in the best
             94      interests of the children.
             95          [(9)] (10) Upon the motion of any party, the court may order uninterrupted parent-time
             96      with the noncustodial parent for a minimum of 30 days during extended parent-time, unless the
             97      court finds it is not in the best interests of the child. If the court orders uninterrupted
             98      parent-time during a period not covered by this section, it shall specify in its order which parent
             99      is responsible for the child's travel expenses.
             100          [(10)] (11) Unless otherwise ordered by the court the relocating party shall be
             101      responsible for all the child's travel expenses relating to Subsections [(5)] (6)(a) and (b) and 1/2
             102      of the child's travel expenses relating to Subsection [(5)] (6)(c), provided the noncustodial
             103      parent is current on all support obligations. If the noncustodial parent has been found in
             104      contempt for not being current on all support obligations, the noncustodial parent shall be
             105      responsible for all of the child's travel expenses under Subsection [(5)] (6), unless the court
             106      rules otherwise. Reimbursement by either responsible party to the other for the child's travel
             107      expenses shall be made within 30 days of receipt of documents detailing those expenses.
             108          [(11)] (12) The court may apply this provision to any preexisting decree of divorce.
             109          [(12)] (13) Any action under this section may be set for an expedited hearing.
             110          [(13)] (14) A parent who fails to comply with the notice of relocation in Subsection (2)
             111      shall be in contempt of the court's order.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-9-12 8:23 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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