HF 1262

2nd Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to family law; providing for a joint physical custody study group;
providing for a comprehensive family court process study.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin JOINT PHYSICAL CUSTODY; STUDY GROUP.
new text end

new text begin (a) The state court administrator shall convene a study group of 12 members to
consider the impacts of a presumption of joint physical custody in Minnesota. The
evaluation shall consider the positive and negative impact on parents and children of
adopting a presumption of joint physical custody, the fiscal impact of adopting this
presumption, and the experiences of other states that have adopted a presumption of
joint physical custody. The study must consider data and information from academic
and research professionals.
new text end

new text begin (b) In appointing members to the study group, the state court administrator must
ensure that the viewpoint of parent advocacy groups, citizen members who are not
associated with a parent advocacy group, academics and policy analysts, judges, court
administrators, attorneys, domestic violence advocates, and other interested parties are
represented. The state court administrator must consult with the chairs of the house public
safety finance division and the senate public safety budget division on the composition
of the working group. The state court administrator shall report to the legislature on the
evaluation of presumption of joint physical custody, the experiences of other states, and
recommendations made by the study group no later than January 15, 2009.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY COURT PROCESS; STUDY.
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new text begin The state court administrator shall report on a plan to conduct a multidisciplinary,
comprehensive study on family law to the chairs of the budget and policy committees in
the house and senate with jurisdiction over family law no later than January 15, 2009.
new text end