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• 2015 General Session
• H.B. 428

H.B. 428 Online Parenting Course for Divorcing Parties

• Bill Text
• Status
• Hearings/Debate

Bill Sponsor: Rep. Moss, Carol Spackman

Floor Sponsor: Sen. Escamilla, Luz

• Drafting Attorney: Esther Chelsea-McCarty
• Fiscal Analyst: Stephen C. Jardine

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• Bill Text
  • Introduced (Currently Displayed)

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• Related Documents
  • Fiscal Note
  • House Transmittal Letter 1

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• Information
  • Last Action: 12 Mar 2015, House/ filed
  • Last Location: House file for bills not passed

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• Similar Bills
  • Marriage / Divorce
  • Courts
  • Judiciary

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Introduced

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H.B. 428

1     ONLINE PARENTING COURSE FOR DIVORCING PARTIES
2     2015 GENERAL SESSION
3     STATE OF UTAH
4     Chief Sponsor: Carol Spackman Moss
5     Senate Sponsor: Luz Escamilla
6     

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill authorizes the educational course for divorcing parents to be attended online.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     authorizes the courts to provide an online option for the mandatory educational
13     course for divorcing parents.
14     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
15          None
16     Other Special Clauses:
17          None
18     Utah Code Sections Affected:
19     AMENDS:
20          30-3-11.3, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 347
21     

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22     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23          Section 1. Section 30-3-11.3 is amended to read:
24          30-3-11.3. Mandatory educational course for divorcing parents -- Purpose --
25     Curriculum -- Exceptions.
26          (1) The Judicial Council shall approve and implement a mandatory course for
27     divorcing parents in all judicial districts. The mandatory course is designed to educate and

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28     sensitize divorcing parties to their children's needs both during and after the divorce process.
29          (2) The Judicial Council shall adopt rules to implement and administer this program.
30          (3) As a prerequisite to receiving a divorce decree, both parties are required to attend a
31     mandatory course on their children's needs after filing a complaint for divorce and receiving a
32     docket number, unless waived under Section 30-3-4. If that requirement is waived, the court
33     may permit the divorce action to proceed.
34          (4) The court may require unmarried parents to attend this educational course when
35     those parents are involved in a visitation or custody proceeding before the court.
36          (5) The mandatory course shall instruct both parties:
37          (a) about divorce and its impacts on:
38          (i) their child or children;
39          (ii) their family relationship; and
40          (iii) their financial responsibilities for their child or children; and
41          (b) that domestic violence has a harmful effect on children and family relationships.
42          (6) The course may be provided through live instruction, video instruction, or an online
43     provider.
44          [(6)] (7) The Administrative Office of the Courts shall administer the course pursuant
45     to Title 63G, Chapter 6a, Utah Procurement Code, through private or public contracts and
46     organize the program in each of Utah's judicial districts. The contracts shall provide for the
47     recoupment of administrative expenses through the costs charged to individual parties,
48     pursuant to Subsection [(8)] (9).
49          [(7)] (8) A certificate of completion constitutes evidence to the court of course
50     completion by the parties.
51          [(8)] (9) (a) Each party shall pay the costs of the course to the independent contractor
52     providing the course at the time and place of the course. A fee of $8 shall be collected, as part
53     of the course fee paid by each participant, and deposited in the Children's Legal Defense
54     Account, described in Section 51-9-408.
55          (b) Each party who is unable to pay the costs of the course may attend the course
56     without payment upon a prima facie showing of impecuniosity as evidenced by an affidavit of
57     impecuniosity filed in the district court. In those situations, the independent contractor shall be
58     reimbursed for its costs from the appropriation to the Administrative Office of the Courts for

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59     "Mandatory Educational Course for Divorcing Parents Program." Before a decree of divorce
60     may be entered, the court shall make a final review and determination of impecuniosity and
61     may order the payment of the costs if so determined.
62          [(9)] (10) Appropriations from the General Fund to the Administrative Office of the
63     Courts for the "Mandatory Educational Course for Divorcing Parents Program" shall be used to
64     pay the costs of an indigent parent who makes a showing as provided in Subsection [(8)] (9)(b).
65          [(10)] (11) The Administrative Office of the Courts shall adopt a program to evaluate
66     the effectiveness of the mandatory educational course. Progress reports shall be provided if
67     requested by the Judiciary Interim Committee.

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Legislative Review Note
     as of 2-24-15 3:23 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel