1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to family law; establishing a family law mediation task force.
1.3 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.4 	Section 1. FAMILY LAW MEDIATION TASK FORCE.
 1.5 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. The Family Law Mediation Task Force is established 
1.6 	(1) to advise and inform the legislature on the impact of conflict on children during the 
1.7 	marital dissolution process and (2) to make conflict resolution recommendations to reduce 
1.8 	that conflict.
1.9 		Subd. 2.Membership. (a) The task force consists of:
1.10 	(1) two members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the 
1.11 	house and one appointed by the minority leader;
1.12 	(2) two members of the senate, one appointed by the majority leader and one appointed 
1.13 	by the minority leader;
1.14 	(3) one representative from the Family Law Section of the Minnesota State Bar 
1.15 	Association;
1.16 	(4) one representative from the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the Minnesota 
1.17 	State Bar Association;
1.18 	(5) one representative from the Academy of Professional Family Mediators;
1.19 	(6) one representative from the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts;
1.20 	(7) one representative from Conflict Resolution Minnesota;
2.1 	(8) one representative from the Minnesota Psychological Association;
2.2 	(9) one representative from the Minnesota Association of Marriage and Family Therapists;
2.3 	(10) one representative from the Professional Mediation Board of Standards;
2.4 	(11) one family court referee, one district court judge, or one retired judge with experience 
2.5 	in family law matters, appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court; and
2.6 	(12) one representative from the Minnesota Legal Services Coalition.
2.7 	(b) Members shall serve without compensation. Each organization listed in paragraph 
2.8 	(a) is responsible for appointing its representative.
2.9 		Subd. 3.Organization. (a) The commissioner of Bureau of Mediation Services or the 
2.10 	commissioner's designee shall convene the first meeting of the task force.
2.11 	(b) The task force shall meet monthly or as determined by the chair.
2.12 	(c) The members of the task force shall elect a chair and other officers as the members 
2.13 	deem necessary.
2.14 		Subd. 4.Staff. The commissioner of Bureau of Mediation Services shall provide support 
2.15 	staff, office space, and administrative services for the task force.
2.16 		Subd. 5.Duties. (a) The task force shall develop a family law mediation report covering 
2.17 	the following:
2.18 	(1) an analysis of the existing research regarding the effect of the dissolution process 
2.19 	on children;
2.20 	(2) recommendations for conflict resolution practices as an alternative to the court process 
2.21 	to reduce the negative impact dissolution proceedings have on children; and
2.22 	(3) recommendations for a model program for mediation services for implementation 
2.23 	in district courts throughout the state.
2.24 	(b) The task force shall engage with each district court in the state to encourage the use 
2.25 	of the model program for mediation services recommended under paragraph (a).
2.26 		Subd. 6.Report. The task force must submit the report required under subdivision 5 
2.27 	and any policy recommendations to the chairs and ranking minority members of the 
2.28 	legislative committees with jurisdiction over family law by January 15, 2020.
2.29 		Subd. 7.Expiration. The task force expires upon submission of the report required  
2.30 	under subdivision 6.

3.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.