HF 3311

1st Engrossment - 81st Legislature (1999 - 2000) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to family law; providing for parenting plans; 
  1.3             clarifying the procedure for obtaining custody and 
  1.4             parenting time when a recognition of parentage has 
  1.5             been executed; changing certain terminology; amending 
  1.6             Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 15.87; 119A.37; 
  1.7             124D.23, subdivision 8; 256L.01, subdivision 3a; 
  1.8             257.541; 257.75, subdivision 3; 257A.01, subdivision 
  1.9             2; 257A.03, subdivision 2; 480.30, subdivision 1; 
  1.10            494.015, subdivision 1; 517.08, subdivision 1c; 
  1.11            518.003, subdivision 3, and by adding a subdivision; 
  1.12            518.131, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 7, and by adding a 
  1.13            subdivision; 518.156; 518.157, subdivisions 1 and 3; 
  1.14            518.165, subdivision 1; 518.175, subdivisions 1, 1a, 
  1.15            2, 3, 5, 6, and 8; 518.1751; 518.176, subdivision 2; 
  1.16            518.177; 518.179, subdivision 1; 518.18; 518.612; 
  1.17            518.619, subdivision 1; 518.68, subdivisions 1 and 2; 
  1.18            518B.01, subdivisions 4, 6, and 8; 519.11, subdivision 
  1.19            1a; 609.26, subdivision 2; 629.341, subdivision 3; and 
  1.20            631.52, subdivision 1; Minnesota Statutes 1999 
  1.21            Supplement, sections 119A.45; 257.66, subdivision 3; 
  1.22            494.03; 518.155; 518.165, subdivision 2; 518.178; 
  1.23            518.551, subdivision 5; and 609.26, subdivision 1; 
  1.24            proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.25            chapter 518. 
  1.26  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.27                             ARTICLE 1
  1.28                 PARENTING PLANS AND PARENTING TIME
  1.29     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.003, is 
  1.30  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.31     Subd. 5.  [PARENTING TIME.] "Parenting time" means the time 
  1.32  a parent spends with a child regardless of the custodial 
  1.33  designation regarding the child. 
  1.34     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.131, is 
  1.35  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.1      Subd. 11.  [TEMPORARY SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE.] Temporary 
  2.2   support and maintenance may be ordered during the time a 
  2.3   parenting plan is being developed under section 518.1705. 
  2.4      Sec. 3.  [518.1705] [PARENTING PLANS.] 
  2.5      Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITION.] "Domestic abuse" for the 
  2.6   purposes of this section has the meaning given in section 
  2.7   518B.01, subdivision 2. 
  2.8      Subd. 2.  [PLAN ELEMENTS.] (a) A parenting plan must 
  2.9   include the following: 
  2.10     (1) a schedule of the time each parent spends with the 
  2.11  child; 
  2.12     (2) a designation of decision-making responsibilities 
  2.13  regarding the child; and 
  2.14     (3) a method of dispute resolution. 
  2.15     (b) A parenting plan may include such other issues and 
  2.16  matters as the parents may agree to regarding the child. 
  2.17     (c) Parents who agree to a parenting plan may agree on 
  2.18  alternative terminology for the concepts "physical custody," 
  2.19  "legal custody," and "parenting time."  If the parents do not 
  2.20  agree to a parenting plan and the court creates one on its own 
  2.21  motion, then the court shall not use such alternative 
  2.22  terminology.  
  2.23     Subd. 3.  [CREATING PARENTING PLAN; ALTERNATIVE.] Upon the 
  2.24  request of both parents, a parenting plan must be created in 
  2.25  lieu of an order for child custody and parenting time, unless 
  2.26  the court makes detailed findings that the proposed plan is not 
  2.27  in the best interests of the child.  In addition, on the court's 
  2.28  own motion, a parenting plan may be created in lieu of an order 
  2.29  for child custody and parenting time.  If the parents do not 
  2.30  agree to a parenting plan and the court does not create one on 
  2.31  its own motion, orders for custody and parenting time must be 
  2.32  entered under sections 518.17 and 518.175 or section 257.541. 
  2.33     Subd. 4.  [CUSTODY DESIGNATION.] Any final judgment and 
  2.34  decree that includes a parenting plan using alternate terms to 
  2.35  designate decision-making responsibilities or allocation of 
  2.36  residential time, or both, between the parents must designate 
  3.1   whether the parents have joint legal custody or joint physical 
  3.2   custody, or both, and if not, which parent has sole legal 
  3.3   custody or sole physical custody, or both.  This designation is 
  3.4   solely for interstate or international enforcement of the final 
  3.5   judgment and decree where such a designation is required for 
  3.6   that enforcement and shall have no effect under the laws of this 
  3.7   state or any other state which does not require such a 
  3.8   designation. 
  3.9      Subd. 5.  [ROLE OF COURT.] The court may require each 
  3.10  parent to submit a proposed parenting plan at any time before 
  3.11  entry of the final judgment and decree.  If parents seek the 
  3.12  court's assistance in deciding the schedule for each parent's 
  3.13  time with the child or designation of decision-making 
  3.14  responsibilities regarding the child, the court may order an 
  3.15  evaluation and should consider the appointment of a guardian ad 
  3.16  litem.  Parenting plans entered following a contested hearing or 
  3.17  reviewed by the court pursuant to a stipulation must be based on 
  3.18  the best interests factors in section 518.17 or 257.025, as 
  3.19  applicable. 
  3.20     Subd. 6.  [RESTRICTIONS ON PREPARATION OF PARENTING 
  3.21  PLAN.] (a) Dispute resolution processes other than the judicial 
  3.22  process can not be required in the preparation of a parenting 
  3.23  plan if a parent is alleged to have committed domestic abuse 
  3.24  toward a parent or child who is a party to, or subject of, the 
  3.25  matter before the court.  In such cases, the court must consider 
  3.26  the appointment of a guardian ad litem and a parenting plan 
  3.27  evaluator.  
  3.28     (b) If a court makes a finding that domestic abuse has 
  3.29  occurred between the parents in the matter before the court and 
  3.30  if the parents do not agree to a parenting plan, the court must 
  3.31  not create one on its own motion. 
  3.32     (c) A parenting plan must not provide for shared 
  3.33  decision-making responsibilities or use of dispute resolution 
  3.34  processes other than the judicial process if the court finds 
  3.35  that section 518.179 applies. 
  3.36     Subd. 7.  [MOVING THE CHILD TO ANOTHER STATE.] Parents may 
  4.1   include in a parenting plan an agreement to use the factors in 
  4.2   section 518.17 or 257.025, as applicable, to govern a decision 
  4.3   concerning removal of a child's residence from this state. 
  4.4      Subd. 8.  [ALLOCATION OF CERTAIN EXPENSES.] Parents 
  4.5   creating a parenting plan are subject to the requirements of the 
  4.6   child support guidelines under section 518.551.  Parents may 
  4.7   include in the parenting plan an allocation of any or all 
  4.8   expenses for the child.  The allocation is an enforceable 
  4.9   contract between the parents. 
  4.10     Subd. 9.  [MODIFICATION OF PARENTING PLANS.] (a) Parents 
  4.11  may modify the schedule of the time each parent spends with the 
  4.12  child or the decision-making provisions of a parenting plan by 
  4.13  agreement.  To be enforceable, modifications must be confirmed 
  4.14  by court order.  Unless a parenting plan provides otherwise, a 
  4.15  motion to modify decision-making provisions or the time each 
  4.16  parent spends with the child may be made only within the time 
  4.17  limits provided by section 518.18. 
  4.18     (b) If the parties have not agreed to apply the best 
  4.19  interests standard in section 518.17 or 257.025, as applicable, 
  4.20  the court must use the standards in section 518.18, paragraph 
  4.21  (d), when deciding a motion for modification that would change 
  4.22  the parent with whom the child spends the most time. 
  4.23     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.175, 
  4.24  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
  4.25     Subd. 5.  [MODIFICATION OF VISITATION PARENTING PLAN OR 
  4.26  ORDER FOR PARENTING TIME.] If modification would serve the best 
  4.27  interests of the child, the court shall modify the 
  4.28  decision-making provisions of a parenting plan or an order 
  4.29  granting or denying visitation rights whenever modification 
  4.30  would serve the best interests of the child parenting time, if 
  4.31  the modification would not change the parent with whom the child 
  4.32  spends the most time.  Except as provided in section 631.52, the 
  4.33  court may not restrict visitation rights parenting time unless 
  4.34  it finds that:  
  4.35     (1) the visitation parenting time is likely to endanger the 
  4.36  child's physical or emotional health or impair the child's 
  5.1   emotional development; or 
  5.2      (2) the noncustodial parent has chronically and 
  5.3   unreasonably failed to comply with court-ordered visitation 
  5.4   parenting time. 
  5.5      If the custodial parent makes specific allegations that 
  5.6   visitation parenting time places the custodial parent or child 
  5.7   in danger of harm, the court shall hold a hearing at the 
  5.8   earliest possible time to determine the need to modify the order 
  5.9   granting visitation rights parenting time.  Consistent with 
  5.10  subdivision 1a, the court may require a third party, including 
  5.11  the local social services agency, to supervise the visitation 
  5.12  parenting time or may restrict a parent's visitation 
  5.13  rights parenting time if necessary to protect the custodial 
  5.14  parent or child from harm.  
  5.15     Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.18, is 
  5.16  amended to read: 
  5.17     518.18 [MODIFICATION OF ORDER.] 
  5.18     (a) Unless agreed to in writing by the parties, no motion 
  5.19  to modify a custody order or parenting plan may be made earlier 
  5.20  than one year after the date of the entry of a decree of 
  5.21  dissolution or legal separation containing a provision dealing 
  5.22  with custody, except in accordance with paragraph (c). 
  5.23     (b) If a motion for modification has been heard, whether or 
  5.24  not it was granted, unless agreed to in writing by the parties 
  5.25  no subsequent motion may be filed within two years after 
  5.26  disposition of the prior motion on its merits, except in 
  5.27  accordance with paragraph (c). 
  5.28     (c) The time limitations prescribed in paragraphs (a) and 
  5.29  (b) shall not prohibit a motion to modify a custody order or 
  5.30  parenting plan if the court finds that there is persistent and 
  5.31  willful denial or interference with visitation parenting time, 
  5.32  or has reason to believe that the child's present environment 
  5.33  may endanger the child's physical or emotional health or impair 
  5.34  the child's emotional development. 
  5.35     (d) If the court has jurisdiction to determine child 
  5.36  custody matters, the court shall not modify a prior custody 
  6.1   order or the parenting plan provisions which specify the parent 
  6.2   with whom the child spends the most time unless it finds, upon 
  6.3   the basis of facts, including unwarranted denial of, or 
  6.4   interference with, a duly established visitation parenting time 
  6.5   schedule, that have arisen since the prior order or parenting 
  6.6   plan or that were unknown to the court at the time of the prior 
  6.7   order or parenting plan, that a change has occurred in the 
  6.8   circumstances of the child or the parties and that the 
  6.9   modification is necessary to serve the best interests of the 
  6.10  child.  In applying these standards the court shall retain the 
  6.11  custody arrangement established by the prior order or the 
  6.12  parenting plan provisions which specify the parent with whom the 
  6.13  child spends the most time unless: 
  6.14     (i) the parties have agreed, in a writing approved by a 
  6.15  court, to apply the best interests standard in section 518.17 or 
  6.16  257.025, as applicable; 
  6.17     (ii) both parties agree to the modification; 
  6.18     (ii) (iii) the child has been integrated into the family of 
  6.19  the petitioner with the consent of the other party; or 
  6.20     (iii) (iv) the child's present environment endangers the 
  6.21  child's physical or emotional health or impairs the child's 
  6.22  emotional development and the harm likely to be caused by a 
  6.23  change of environment is outweighed by the advantage of a change 
  6.24  to the child.  
  6.25     In addition, a court may modify a custody order or 
  6.26  parenting plan under section 631.52.  
  6.27     (e) In deciding whether to modify a prior joint custody 
  6.28  order, the court shall apply the standards set forth in 
  6.29  paragraph (d) unless:  (1) the parties agree in writing to the 
  6.30  application of a different standard, or (2) the party seeking 
  6.31  the modification is asking the court for permission to move the 
  6.32  residence of the child to another state. 
  6.33     (f) If a custodial parent has been granted sole physical 
  6.34  custody of a minor and the child subsequently lives with the 
  6.35  noncustodial parent, and temporary sole physical custody has 
  6.36  been approved by the court or by a court-appointed referee, the 
  7.1   court may suspend the noncustodial parent's child support 
  7.2   obligation pending the final custody determination.  The court's 
  7.3   order denying the suspension of child support must include a 
  7.4   written explanation of the reasons why continuation of the child 
  7.5   support obligation would be in the best interests of the child. 
  7.6      Sec. 6.  [518.183] [REPLACING CERTAIN ORDERS.] 
  7.7      Upon request of one or both parties the court must consider 
  7.8   a motion to modify an order entered under section 518.17 or 
  7.9   518.175 before the effective date of this act by entering a 
  7.10  parenting plan that complies with section 518.1705.  The court 
  7.11  must apply the standards in section 518.18 when considering a 
  7.12  motion to enter a parenting plan that would change the parent 
  7.13  with whom the child spends the most time.  The court must apply 
  7.14  the standards in section 518.17 when considering a motion to 
  7.15  enter a parenting plan that would: 
  7.16     (1) change decision-making responsibilities of the parents; 
  7.17  or 
  7.18     (2) change the time each parent spends with the child, but 
  7.19  not change the parent with whom the child spends the most time. 
  7.20     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518B.01, 
  7.21  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
  7.22     Subd. 6.  [RELIEF BY THE COURT.] (a) Upon notice and 
  7.23  hearing, the court may provide relief as follows: 
  7.24     (1) restrain the abusing party from committing acts of 
  7.25  domestic abuse; 
  7.26     (2) exclude the abusing party from the dwelling which the 
  7.27  parties share or from the residence of the petitioner; 
  7.28     (3) exclude the abusing party from a reasonable area 
  7.29  surrounding the dwelling or residence, which area shall be 
  7.30  described specifically in the order; 
  7.31     (4) award temporary custody or establish temporary 
  7.32  visitation parenting time with regard to minor children of the 
  7.33  parties on a basis which gives primary consideration to the 
  7.34  safety of the victim and the children.  Except for cases in 
  7.35  which custody is contested, findings under section 257.025, 
  7.36  518.17, or 518.175 are not required.  If the court finds that 
  8.1   the safety of the victim or the children will be jeopardized by 
  8.2   unsupervised or unrestricted visitation parenting time, the 
  8.3   court shall condition or restrict visitation parenting time as 
  8.4   to time, place, duration, or supervision, or deny 
  8.5   visitation parenting time entirely, as needed to guard the 
  8.6   safety of the victim and the children.  The court's decision on 
  8.7   custody and visitation parenting time shall in no way delay the 
  8.8   issuance of an order for protection granting other reliefs 
  8.9   relief provided for in this section.  The court must not enter a 
  8.10  parenting plan under section 518.1705 as part of an action for 
  8.11  an order for protection; 
  8.12     (5) on the same basis as is provided in chapter 518, 
  8.13  establish temporary support for minor children or a spouse, and 
  8.14  order the withholding of support from the income of the person 
  8.15  obligated to pay the support according to chapter 518; 
  8.16     (6) provide upon request of the petitioner counseling or 
  8.17  other social services for the parties, if married, or if there 
  8.18  are minor children; 
  8.19     (7) order the abusing party to participate in treatment or 
  8.20  counseling services; 
  8.21     (8) award temporary use and possession of property and 
  8.22  restrain one or both parties from transferring, encumbering, 
  8.23  concealing, or disposing of property except in the usual course 
  8.24  of business or for the necessities of life, and to account to 
  8.25  the court for all such transfers, encumbrances, dispositions, 
  8.26  and expenditures made after the order is served or communicated 
  8.27  to the party restrained in open court; 
  8.28     (9) exclude the abusing party from the place of employment 
  8.29  of the petitioner, or otherwise limit access to the petitioner 
  8.30  by the abusing party at the petitioner's place of employment; 
  8.31     (10) order the abusing party to pay restitution to the 
  8.32  petitioner; 
  8.33     (11) order the continuance of all currently available 
  8.34  insurance coverage without change in coverage or beneficiary 
  8.35  designation; and 
  8.36     (12) order, in its discretion, other relief as it deems 
  9.1   necessary for the protection of a family or household member, 
  9.2   including orders or directives to the sheriff, constable, or 
  9.3   other law enforcement or corrections officer as provided by this 
  9.4   section. 
  9.5      (b) Any relief granted by the order for protection shall be 
  9.6   for a fixed period not to exceed one year, except when the court 
  9.7   determines a longer fixed period is appropriate.  When a referee 
  9.8   presides at the hearing on the petition, the order granting 
  9.9   relief becomes effective upon the referee's signature. 
  9.10     (c) An order granting the relief authorized in paragraph 
  9.11  (a), clause (1), may not be vacated or modified in a proceeding 
  9.12  for dissolution of marriage or legal separation, except that the 
  9.13  court may hear a motion for modification of an order for 
  9.14  protection concurrently with a proceeding for dissolution of 
  9.15  marriage upon notice of motion and motion.  The notice required 
  9.16  by court rule shall not be waived.  If the proceedings are 
  9.17  consolidated and the motion to modify is granted, a separate 
  9.18  order for modification of an order for protection shall be 
  9.19  issued. 
  9.20     (d) An order granting the relief authorized in paragraph 
  9.21  (a), clause (2), is not voided by the admittance of the abusing 
  9.22  party into the dwelling from which the abusing party is excluded.
  9.23     (e) If a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or legal 
  9.24  separation is pending between the parties, the court shall 
  9.25  provide a copy of the order for protection to the court with 
  9.26  jurisdiction over the dissolution or separation proceeding for 
  9.27  inclusion in its file. 
  9.28     (f) An order for restitution issued under this subdivision 
  9.29  is enforceable as civil judgment. 
  9.30     Sec. 8.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  9.31     Section 5 is effective retroactive to September 1, 1999, 
  9.32  and applies to modifications sought on or after that date and to 
  9.33  written agreements approved by a court before, on, or after that 
  9.34  date. 
  9.35                             ARTICLE 2
  9.36                       CONFORMING TERMINOLOGY
 10.1      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 15.87, is 
 10.2   amended to read: 
 10.3      15.87 [VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE.] 
 10.4      In furtherance of the state policy of zero tolerance for 
 10.5   violence in section 1.50, the state shall have a goal of 
 10.6   providing: 
 10.7      (1) every victim of violence in Minnesota, regardless of 
 10.8   the county of residence, access to necessary services, 
 10.9   including, but not limited to: 
 10.10     (i) crisis intervention services, including a 24-hour 
 10.11  emergency telephone line; 
 10.12     (ii) safe housing; 
 10.13     (iii) counseling and peer support services; and 
 10.14     (iv) assistance in pursuing legal remedies and appropriate 
 10.15  medical care; and 
 10.16     (2) every child who is a witness to abuse or who is a 
 10.17  victim of violence, access to necessary services, including, but 
 10.18  not limited to: 
 10.19     (i) crisis child care; 
 10.20     (ii) safe supervised child visitation parenting time, when 
 10.21  needed; 
 10.22     (iii) age appropriate counseling and support; and 
 10.23     (iv) assistance with legal remedies, medical care, and 
 10.24  needed social services.  
 10.25     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 119A.37, is 
 10.26  amended to read: 
 10.27     119A.37 [GRANTS FOR FAMILY VISITATION PARENTING TIME 
 10.28  CENTERS.] 
 10.29     Subdivision 1.  [PURPOSE.] The commissioner shall issue a 
 10.30  request for proposals from existing local nonprofit, 
 10.31  nongovernmental, or governmental organizations, to use existing 
 10.32  local facilities as family visitation parenting time centers 
 10.33  which may also be used for visitation parenting time exchanges.  
 10.34  The commissioner shall award grants in amounts up to $50,000 for 
 10.35  the purpose of creating or maintaining family visitation 
 10.36  parenting time centers in an effort to reduce children's 
 11.1   vulnerability to violence and trauma related to family 
 11.2   visitation parenting time, where there has been a history of 
 11.3   domestic violence or abuse within the family.  The commissioner 
 11.4   shall award the grants to provide the greatest possible number 
 11.5   of family visitation parenting time centers and to locate them 
 11.6   to provide for the broadest possible geographic distribution of 
 11.7   the centers throughout the state.  
 11.8      Each children's family visitation parenting time center 
 11.9   must use existing local facilities to provide a healthy 
 11.10  interactive environment for parents who are separated or 
 11.11  divorced and for parents with children in foster homes to visit 
 11.12  with their children.  The centers must be available for use by 
 11.13  district courts who may order visitation parenting time to occur 
 11.14  at a family visitation parenting time center.  The centers may 
 11.15  also be used as drop-off sites, so that parents who are under 
 11.16  court order to have no contact with each other can exchange 
 11.17  children for visitation parenting time at a neutral site.  Each 
 11.18  center must provide sufficient security to ensure a 
 11.19  safe visitation parenting time environment for children and 
 11.20  their parents.  A grantee must demonstrate the ability to 
 11.21  provide a 25 percent local match, which may include in-kind 
 11.22  contributions. 
 11.23     Subd. 2.  [COUNTY INVOLVEMENT.] Each county or group of 
 11.24  counties is encouraged to provide supervised visitation 
 11.25  parenting time services in an effort to fill the gap in the 
 11.26  court system that orders supervised visitation parenting time 
 11.27  but does not provide a center to accomplish the 
 11.28  supervised visitation parenting time as ordered.  Each county or 
 11.29  group of counties is encouraged to either financially contribute 
 11.30  to an existing family visitation parenting time center in the 
 11.31  area, or establish a new center if there is not one in the area, 
 11.32  possibly through county social services.  In creating a new 
 11.33  center, the county may collaborate with other counties, 
 11.34  other family visitation parenting time centers, family services 
 11.35  collaboratives, court services, and any other entity or 
 11.36  organization.  The goal is to provide family visitation 
 12.1   parenting time centers statewide.  The county shall apply for 
 12.2   funding that may be available through the federal government, 
 12.3   specifically for family preservation or family reunification 
 12.4   purposes, or any other source of funding that will aid in 
 12.5   developing and maintaining this vital service. 
 12.6      Subd. 3.  [FUNDING.] The commissioner may award grants to 
 12.7   create or maintain family visitation parenting time centers. 
 12.8      In awarding grants to maintain a family visitation 
 12.9   parenting time center, the commissioner may award a grant to a 
 12.10  center that can demonstrate a 35 percent local match, provided 
 12.11  the center is diligently exploring and pursuing all available 
 12.12  funding options in an effort to become self-sustaining, and 
 12.13  those efforts are reported to the commissioner. 
 12.14     In awarding grants to create a family visitation parenting 
 12.15  time center, the commissioner shall give priority to: 
 12.16     (1) areas of the state where no other family visitation 
 12.17  parenting time center or similar facility exists; 
 12.18     (2) applicants who demonstrate that private funding for the 
 12.19  center is available and will continue; and 
 12.20     (3) facilities that are adapted for use to care for 
 12.21  children, such as day care centers, religious institutions, 
 12.22  community centers, schools, technical colleges, parenting 
 12.23  resource centers, and child care referral services.  
 12.24     In awarding grants to create or maintain a family 
 12.25  visitation parenting time center, the commissioner shall require 
 12.26  the proposed center to meet standards developed by the 
 12.27  commissioner to ensure the safety of the custodial parent and 
 12.28  children. 
 12.29     Subd. 4.  [ADDITIONAL SERVICES.] Each family visitation 
 12.30  parenting time center may provide parenting and child 
 12.31  development classes, and offer support groups to participating 
 12.32  custodial parents and hold regular classes designed to assist 
 12.33  children who have experienced domestic violence and abuse.  Each 
 12.34  family visitation parenting time center must have available an 
 12.35  individual knowledgeable about or experienced in the provision 
 12.36  of services to battered women on its staff, its board of 
 13.1   directors, or otherwise available to it for consultation. 
 13.2      Subd. 5.  [ADMINISTRATION.] In administering the grants 
 13.3   authorized by this section, the commissioner shall ensure that 
 13.4   the term "family visitation parenting time center" is used in 
 13.5   all future applications, publicity releases, requests for 
 13.6   proposals, and other materials of like nature.  Materials 
 13.7   published prior to the enactment of this legislation which use 
 13.8   different terms may be distributed by the commissioner until 
 13.9   supplies are gone. 
 13.10     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section 
 13.11  119A.45, is amended to read: 
 13.12     119A.45 [EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING AND CHILD PROTECTION 
 13.13  FACILITIES.] 
 13.14     The commissioner may make grants to state agencies and 
 13.15  political subdivisions to construct or rehabilitate facilities 
 13.16  for early childhood programs, with priority to centers in 
 13.17  counties or municipalities with the highest percentage of 
 13.18  children living in poverty.  The commissioner may also make 
 13.19  grants to state agencies and political subdivisions to construct 
 13.20  or rehabilitate facilities for crisis nurseries or child 
 13.21  visitation parenting time centers.  The facilities must be owned 
 13.22  by the state or a political subdivision, but may be leased under 
 13.23  section 16A.695 to organizations that operate the programs.  The 
 13.24  commissioner must prescribe the terms and conditions of the 
 13.25  leases.  A grant for an individual facility must not exceed 
 13.26  $200,000 for each program that is housed in the facility, up to 
 13.27  a maximum of $500,000 for a facility that houses three programs 
 13.28  or more.  Programs include Head Start, early childhood and 
 13.29  family education programs, and other early childhood 
 13.30  intervention programs.  The commissioner must give priority to 
 13.31  grants that involve collaboration among sponsors of programs 
 13.32  under this section and may give priority to projects that 
 13.33  collaborate with child care providers, including all-day and 
 13.34  school-age child care programs, special needs care, sick child 
 13.35  care, and nontraditional hour care.  The commissioner may give 
 13.36  priority to grants for programs that will increase their child 
 14.1   care workers' wages as a result of the grant.  At least 25 
 14.2   percent of the amounts appropriated for these grants up to 
 14.3   $50,000 must utilize youthbuild under sections 268.361 to 
 14.4   268.366 or other youth employment and training programs for the 
 14.5   labor portion of the construction.  Eligible programs must 
 14.6   consult with appropriate labor organizations to deliver 
 14.7   education and training.  State appropriations must be matched on 
 14.8   a 50 percent basis with nonstate funds.  The matching 
 14.9   requirement must apply programwide and not to individual grants. 
 14.10     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 124D.23, 
 14.11  subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
 14.12     Subd. 8.  [PLAN APPROVAL BY THE CHILDREN'S CABINET.] (a) 
 14.13  The children's cabinet must approve local plans for 
 14.14  collaboratives.  In approving local plans, the children's 
 14.15  cabinet must give highest priority to a plan that provides: 
 14.16     (1) early intervention and family outreach services; 
 14.17     (2) family visitation parenting time services; 
 14.18     (3) a continuum of services for children from birth to age 
 14.19  18; 
 14.20     (4) family preservation services; 
 14.21     (5) culturally sensitive approaches for delivering services 
 14.22  and utilizing culturally specific organizations; 
 14.23     (6) clearly defined outcomes and valid methods of 
 14.24  assessment; 
 14.25     (7) effective service coordination; 
 14.26     (8) participation by the maximum number of jurisdictions 
 14.27  and local, county, and state funding sources; 
 14.28     (9) integrated community service providers and local 
 14.29  resources; 
 14.30     (10) integrated transportation services; 
 14.31     (11) integrated housing services; and 
 14.32     (12) coordinated services that include a children's mental 
 14.33  health collaborative authorized by law. 
 14.34     (b) The children's cabinet must ensure that the 
 14.35  collaboratives established under this section do not conflict 
 14.36  with any state or federal policy or program and do not 
 15.1   negatively impact the state budget. 
 15.2      Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 256L.01, 
 15.3   subdivision 3a, is amended to read: 
 15.4      Subd. 3a.  [FAMILY WITH CHILDREN.] (a) "Family with 
 15.5   children" means: 
 15.6      (1) parents, their children, and dependent siblings 
 15.7   residing in the same household; or 
 15.8      (2) grandparents, foster parents, relative caretakers as 
 15.9   defined in the medical assistance program, or legal guardians; 
 15.10  their wards who are children; and dependent siblings residing in 
 15.11  the same household.  
 15.12     (b) The term includes children and dependent siblings who 
 15.13  are temporarily absent from the household in settings such as 
 15.14  schools, camps, or visitation parenting time with noncustodial 
 15.15  parents.  
 15.16     (c) For purposes of this subdivision, a dependent sibling 
 15.17  means an unmarried child who is a full-time student under the 
 15.18  age of 25 years who is financially dependent upon a parent, 
 15.19  grandparent, foster parent, relative caretaker, or legal 
 15.20  guardian.  Proof of school enrollment is required. 
 15.21     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 257.541, is 
 15.22  amended to read: 
 15.23     257.541 [CUSTODY AND VISITATION OF PARENTING TIME WITH 
 15.24  CHILDREN BORN OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE.] 
 15.25     Subdivision 1.  [MOTHER'S RIGHT TO CUSTODY.] The biological 
 15.26  mother of a child born to a mother who was not married to the 
 15.27  child's father neither when the child was born nor and was not 
 15.28  married to the child's father when the child was conceived has 
 15.29  sole custody of the child until paternity has been established 
 15.30  under sections 257.51 to 257.74, or until custody is determined 
 15.31  in a separate proceeding under section 518.156.  
 15.32     Subd. 2.  [FATHER'S RIGHT TO VISITATION PARENTING TIME AND 
 15.33  CUSTODY.] (a) If paternity has been acknowledged under section 
 15.34  257.34 and paternity has been established under sections 257.51 
 15.35  to 257.74, the father's rights of visitation parenting time or 
 15.36  custody are determined under sections 518.17 and 518.175.  
 16.1      (b) If paternity has not been acknowledged under section 
 16.2   257.34 and paternity has been established under sections 257.51 
 16.3   to 257.74, the biological father may petition for rights of 
 16.4   visitation parenting time or custody in the paternity proceeding 
 16.5   or in a separate proceeding under section 518.156.  
 16.6      Subd. 3.  [FATHER'S RIGHT TO VISITATION PARENTING TIME AND 
 16.7   CUSTODY; RECOGNITION OF PATERNITY.] If paternity has been 
 16.8   recognized under section 257.75, the father may petition for 
 16.9   rights of visitation parenting time or custody in an independent 
 16.10  action under section 518.156.  The proceeding must be treated as 
 16.11  an initial determination of custody under section 518.17.  The 
 16.12  provisions of chapter 518 apply with respect to the granting of 
 16.13  custody and visitation parenting time.  These proceedings may 
 16.14  not be combined with any proceeding under chapter 518B. 
 16.15     The proceedings shall be commenced by filing a certified 
 16.16  copy of the recognition of parentage.  An adjudication of 
 16.17  parentage is not necessary. 
 16.18     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section 
 16.19  257.66, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 16.20     Subd. 3.  [JUDGMENT; ORDER.] The judgment or order shall 
 16.21  contain provisions concerning the duty of support, the custody 
 16.22  of the child, the name of the child, the social security number 
 16.23  of the mother, father, and child, if known at the time of 
 16.24  adjudication, visitation privileges parenting time with the 
 16.25  child, the furnishing of bond or other security for the payment 
 16.26  of the judgment, or any other matter in the best interest of the 
 16.27  child.  Custody and visitation parenting time and all subsequent 
 16.28  motions related to them shall proceed and be determined under 
 16.29  section 257.541.  The remaining matters and all subsequent 
 16.30  motions related to them shall proceed and be determined in 
 16.31  accordance with chapter 518.  The judgment or order may direct 
 16.32  the appropriate party to pay all or a proportion of the 
 16.33  reasonable expenses of the mother's pregnancy and confinement, 
 16.34  including the mother's lost wages due to medical necessity, 
 16.35  after consideration of the relevant facts, including the 
 16.36  relative financial means of the parents; the earning ability of 
 17.1   each parent; and any health insurance policies held by either 
 17.2   parent, or by a spouse or parent of the parent, which would 
 17.3   provide benefits for the expenses incurred by the mother during 
 17.4   her pregnancy and confinement.  Pregnancy and confinement 
 17.5   expenses and genetic testing costs, submitted by the public 
 17.6   authority, are admissible as evidence without third-party 
 17.7   foundation testimony and constitute prima facie evidence of the 
 17.8   amounts incurred for those services or for the genetic testing.  
 17.9   Remedies available for the collection and enforcement of child 
 17.10  support apply to confinement costs and are considered additional 
 17.11  child support. 
 17.12     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 257.75, 
 17.13  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 17.14     Subd. 3.  [EFFECT OF RECOGNITION.] Subject to subdivision 2 
 17.15  and section 257.55, subdivision 1, paragraph (g) or (h), the 
 17.16  recognition has the force and effect of a judgment or order 
 17.17  determining the existence of the parent and child relationship 
 17.18  under section 257.66.  If the conditions in section 257.55, 
 17.19  subdivision 1, paragraph (g) or (h), exist, the recognition 
 17.20  creates only a presumption of paternity for purposes of sections 
 17.21  257.51 to 257.74.  Once a recognition has been properly executed 
 17.22  and filed with the state registrar of vital statistics, if there 
 17.23  are no competing presumptions of paternity, a judicial or 
 17.24  administrative court may not allow further action to determine 
 17.25  parentage regarding the signator of the recognition.  Until an 
 17.26  order is entered granting custody to another, the mother has 
 17.27  sole custody.  The recognition is: 
 17.28     (1) a basis for bringing an action to award custody or 
 17.29  visitation rights parenting time to either parent, establishing 
 17.30  a child support obligation which may include up to the two years 
 17.31  immediately preceding the commencement of the action, ordering a 
 17.32  contribution by a parent under section 256.87, or ordering a 
 17.33  contribution to the reasonable expenses of the mother's 
 17.34  pregnancy and confinement, as provided under section 257.66, 
 17.35  subdivision 3, or ordering reimbursement for the costs of blood 
 17.36  or genetic testing, as provided under section 257.69, 
 18.1   subdivision 2; 
 18.2      (2) determinative for all other purposes related to the 
 18.3   existence of the parent and child relationship; and 
 18.4      (3) entitled to full faith and credit in other 
 18.5   jurisdictions.  
 18.6      Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 257A.01, 
 18.7   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 18.8      Subd. 2.  [CONSENTS AND NOTICE REQUIRED.] (a) The agreement 
 18.9   must be executed by all parents with legal custody of the child 
 18.10  and must have the consent of every parent who has 
 18.11  court-ordered visitation parenting time rights to the child.  As 
 18.12  soon as practicable after executing an agreement, a copy of the 
 18.13  agreement must be given to every child age 14 or older to whom 
 18.14  the agreement applies. 
 18.15     (b) Consent of a parent required under paragraph (a) may be 
 18.16  given in writing or may be established by mailing a notice 
 18.17  regarding the designated caregiver agreement to the parent's 
 18.18  last known address.  The notice must include the name of the 
 18.19  proposed designated caregiver and inform the parent whose 
 18.20  consent is required that the parent's consent to the agreement 
 18.21  will be implied if the parent does not object within 30 days.  
 18.22  If the parent does not object to the agreement orally or in 
 18.23  writing within 30 days, the consent of the parent is implied. 
 18.24     Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 257A.03, 
 18.25  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 18.26     Subd. 2.  [NOTICE TO NONCUSTODIAL PARENT; RIGHTS.] (a) As 
 18.27  soon as practicable after assuming care of a child, the 
 18.28  designated caregiver shall notify any noncustodial parent that 
 18.29  the designated caregiver has assumed care of the child. 
 18.30     (b) Court-ordered visitation parenting time rights of a 
 18.31  noncustodial parent continue while the child is in the care of 
 18.32  the designated caregiver, unless otherwise modified by the 
 18.33  court.  A designated caregiver agreement does not affect the 
 18.34  right of a parent without physical custody to bring a custody 
 18.35  motion under chapter 518.  If a parent with legal custody is not 
 18.36  the designated caregiver, the parent may bring a motion for 
 19.1   temporary physical custody, which may continue until the parent 
 19.2   with physical custody is able to resume care of the child.  The 
 19.3   court shall award that parent temporary physical custody unless 
 19.4   it finds it would not be in the best interests of the child. 
 19.5      Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 480.30, 
 19.6   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 19.7      Subdivision 1.  [CHILD ABUSE; DOMESTIC ABUSE; HARASSMENT.] 
 19.8   The supreme court's judicial education program must include 
 19.9   ongoing training for district court judges on child and 
 19.10  adolescent sexual abuse, domestic abuse, harassment, stalking, 
 19.11  and related civil and criminal court issues.  The program must 
 19.12  include the following: 
 19.13     (1) information about the specific needs of victims; 
 19.14     (2) education on the causes of sexual abuse and family 
 19.15  violence; 
 19.16     (3) education on culturally responsive approaches to 
 19.17  serving victims; 
 19.18     (4) education on the impacts of domestic abuse and domestic 
 19.19  abuse allegations on children and the importance of considering 
 19.20  these impacts when making visitation parenting time and child 
 19.21  custody decisions under chapter 518; and 
 19.22     (5) information on alleged and substantiated reports of 
 19.23  domestic abuse, including, but not limited to, department of 
 19.24  human services survey data. 
 19.25     The program also must emphasize the need for the 
 19.26  coordination of court and legal victim advocacy services and 
 19.27  include education on sexual abuse and domestic abuse programs 
 19.28  and policies within law enforcement agencies and prosecuting 
 19.29  authorities as well as the court system.  
 19.30     Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 494.015, 
 19.31  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 19.32     Subdivision 1.  [GUIDELINES.] The state court administrator 
 19.33  shall adopt guidelines for use by community dispute resolution 
 19.34  programs and training programs for mediators and arbitrators for 
 19.35  the community dispute resolution programs.  The guidelines must 
 19.36  include provisions to ensure that participation in dispute 
 20.1   resolution is voluntary, procedures for case processing, and 
 20.2   program certification criteria that must be met to receive court 
 20.3   referrals.  The guidelines must include: 
 20.4      (1) standards for training mediators and arbitrators to 
 20.5   recognize matters involving violence against a person; and 
 20.6      (2) training in family law matters that must be completed 
 20.7   by mediators before acceptance of postdissolution property 
 20.8   distribution matters and postdissolution visitation parenting 
 20.9   time matters. 
 20.10     Sec. 13.  Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section 
 20.11  494.03, is amended to read: 
 20.12     494.03 [EXCLUSIONS.] 
 20.13     The guidelines shall exclude:  
 20.14     (1) any dispute involving violence against persons, in 
 20.15  which incidents arising out of situations that would support 
 20.16  charges under sections 609.221 to 609.2231, 609.342 to 609.345, 
 20.17  609.365, or any other felony charges; 
 20.18     (2) any matter involving competency or civil commitment; 
 20.19     (3) any matter involving a person who has been adjudicated 
 20.20  incompetent or relating to guardianship or conservatorship 
 20.21  unless the incompetent person is accompanied by a competent 
 20.22  advocate or the respondent in a guardianship or conservatorship 
 20.23  matter is represented by an attorney, guardian ad litem, or 
 20.24  other representative appointed by the court; 
 20.25     (4) any matter involving neglect or dependency, or 
 20.26  involving termination of parental rights arising under sections 
 20.27  260C.301 to 260C.328; and 
 20.28     (5) any matter arising under section 626.557 or sections 
 20.29  144.651 to 144.652, or any dispute subject to chapters 518 and 
 20.30  518B, whether or not an action is pending, except for 
 20.31  postdissolution property distribution matters and 
 20.32  postdissolution visitation parenting time matters.  This shall 
 20.33  not restrict the present authority of the court or departments 
 20.34  of the court from accepting for resolution a dispute arising 
 20.35  under chapters 518 and 518B, or from referring disputes arising 
 20.36  under chapters 518 and 518A to for-profit mediation. 
 21.1      Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 517.08, 
 21.2   subdivision 1c, is amended to read: 
 21.3      Subd. 1c.  [DISPOSITION OF LICENSE FEE.] Of the marriage 
 21.4   license fee collected pursuant to subdivision 1b, the court 
 21.5   administrator shall pay $55 to the state treasurer to be 
 21.6   deposited as follows: 
 21.7      (1) $50 in the general fund; 
 21.8      (2) $3 in the special revenue fund to be appropriated to 
 21.9   the commissioner of children, families, and learning for 
 21.10  supervised visitation parenting time facilities under section 
 21.11  119A.37; and 
 21.12     (3) $2 in the special revenue fund to be appropriated to 
 21.13  the commissioner of health for developing and implementing the 
 21.14  MN ENABL program under section 145.9255. 
 21.15     Sec. 15.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.003, 
 21.16  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 21.17     Subd. 3.  [CUSTODY.] Unless otherwise agreed by the parties:
 21.18     (a) "Legal custody" means the right to determine the 
 21.19  child's upbringing, including education, health care, and 
 21.20  religious training.  
 21.21     (b) "Joint legal custody" means that both parents have 
 21.22  equal rights and responsibilities, including the right to 
 21.23  participate in major decisions determining the child's 
 21.24  upbringing, including education, health care, and religious 
 21.25  training.  
 21.26     (c) "Physical custody and residence" means the routine 
 21.27  daily care and control and the residence of the child.  
 21.28     (d) "Joint physical custody" means that the routine daily 
 21.29  care and control and the residence of the child is structured 
 21.30  between the parties.  
 21.31     (e) Wherever used in this chapter, the term "custodial 
 21.32  parent" or "custodian" means the person who has the physical 
 21.33  custody of the child at any particular time.  
 21.34     (f) "Custody determination" means a court decision and 
 21.35  court orders and instructions providing for the custody of a 
 21.36  child, including visitation rights parenting time, but does not 
 22.1   include a decision relating to child support or any other 
 22.2   monetary obligation of any person.  
 22.3      (g) "Custody proceeding" includes proceedings in which a 
 22.4   custody determination is one of several issues, such as an 
 22.5   action for dissolution, divorce, or separation, and includes 
 22.6   proceedings involving children who are in need of protection or 
 22.7   services, domestic abuse, and paternity. 
 22.8      Sec. 16.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.131, 
 22.9   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 22.10     Subdivision 1.  In a proceeding brought for custody, 
 22.11  dissolution, or legal separation, or for disposition of 
 22.12  property, maintenance, or child support following the 
 22.13  dissolution of a marriage, either party may, by motion, request 
 22.14  from the court and the court may grant a temporary order pending 
 22.15  the final disposition of the proceeding to or for:  
 22.16     (a) Temporary custody and visitation rights of parenting 
 22.17  time regarding the minor children of the parties; 
 22.18     (b) Temporary maintenance of either spouse; 
 22.19     (c) Temporary child support for the children of the 
 22.20  parties; 
 22.21     (d) Temporary costs and reasonable attorney fees; 
 22.22     (e) Award the temporary use and possession, exclusive or 
 22.23  otherwise, of the family home, furniture, household goods, 
 22.24  automobiles, and other property of the parties; 
 22.25     (f) Restrain one or both parties from transferring, 
 22.26  encumbering, concealing, or disposing of property except in the 
 22.27  usual course of business or for the necessities of life, and to 
 22.28  account to the court for all such transfers, encumbrances, 
 22.29  dispositions, and expenditures made after the order is served or 
 22.30  communicated to the party restrained in open court; 
 22.31     (g) Restrain one or both parties from harassing, vilifying, 
 22.32  mistreating, molesting, disturbing the peace, or restraining the 
 22.33  liberty of the other party or the children of the parties; 
 22.34     (h) Restrain one or both parties from removing any minor 
 22.35  child of the parties from the jurisdiction of the court; 
 22.36     (i) Exclude a party from the family home of the parties or 
 23.1   from the home of the other party; and 
 23.2      (j) Require one or both of the parties to perform or to not 
 23.3   perform such additional acts as will facilitate the just and 
 23.4   speedy disposition of the proceeding, or will protect the 
 23.5   parties or their children from physical or emotional harm.  
 23.6      Sec. 17.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.131, 
 23.7   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 23.8      Subd. 2.  No temporary order shall:  
 23.9      (a) Deny visitation rights parenting time to a noncustodial 
 23.10  parent unless the court finds that visitation parenting time by 
 23.11  the noncustodial parent is likely to cause physical or emotional 
 23.12  harm to the child; 
 23.13     (b) Exclude a party from the family home of the parties 
 23.14  unless the court finds that physical or emotional harm to one of 
 23.15  the parties or to the children of the parties is likely to 
 23.16  result, or that the exclusion is reasonable in the 
 23.17  circumstances; or 
 23.18     (c) Vacate or modify an order granted under section 
 23.19  518B.01, subdivision 6, paragraph (a), clause (1), restraining 
 23.20  an abusing party from committing acts of domestic abuse, except 
 23.21  that the court may hear a motion for modification of an order 
 23.22  for protection concurrently with a proceeding for dissolution of 
 23.23  marriage upon notice of motion and motion.  The notice required 
 23.24  by court rule shall not be waived.  If the proceedings are 
 23.25  consolidated and the motion to modify is granted, a separate 
 23.26  order for modification of an order for protection shall be 
 23.27  issued. 
 23.28     Sec. 18.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.131, 
 23.29  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 23.30     Subd. 3.  A party may request and the court may make an ex 
 23.31  parte restraining order which may include any matter that may be 
 23.32  included in a temporary order except:  
 23.33     (a) A restraining order may not exclude either party from 
 23.34  the family home of the parties except upon a finding by the 
 23.35  court of immediate danger of physical harm to the other party or 
 23.36  the children of either party; and 
 24.1      (b) A restraining order may not deny visitation parenting 
 24.2   time to either party or grant custody of the minor children to 
 24.3   either party except upon a finding by the court of immediate 
 24.4   danger of physical harm to the minor children of the parties.  
 24.5      Sec. 19.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.131, 
 24.6   subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
 24.7      Subd. 7.  The court shall be guided by the factors set 
 24.8   forth in sections 518.551 (concerning child support), 518.552 
 24.9   (concerning maintenance), 518.17 to 518.175 (concerning custody 
 24.10  and visitation parenting time), and 518.14 (concerning costs and 
 24.11  attorney fees) in making temporary orders and restraining orders.
 24.12     Sec. 20.  Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section 
 24.13  518.155, is amended to read: 
 24.14     518.155 [CUSTODY DETERMINATIONS.] 
 24.15     Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a court in which a 
 24.16  proceeding for dissolution, legal separation, or child custody 
 24.17  has been commenced shall not issue, revise, modify or amend any 
 24.18  order, pursuant to sections 518.131, 518.165, 518.168, 518.17, 
 24.19  518.175 or 518.18, which affects the custody of a minor child or 
 24.20  the visitation rights parenting time of a noncustodial parent 
 24.21  unless the court has jurisdiction over the matter pursuant to 
 24.22  the provisions of chapter 518D. 
 24.23     Sec. 21.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.156, is 
 24.24  amended to read: 
 24.25     518.156 [COMMENCEMENT OF CUSTODY PROCEEDING.] 
 24.26     Subdivision 1.  [PROCEDURE.] In a court of this state which 
 24.27  has jurisdiction to decide child custody matters, a child 
 24.28  custody proceeding is commenced: 
 24.29     (a) by a parent 
 24.30     (1) by filing a petition for dissolution or legal 
 24.31  separation; or 
 24.32     (2) where a decree of dissolution or legal separation has 
 24.33  been entered or where none is sought, or when paternity has been 
 24.34  recognized under section 257.75, by filing a petition or motion 
 24.35  seeking custody or visitation of parenting time with the child 
 24.36  in the county where the child is permanently resident or where 
 25.1   the child is found or where an earlier order for custody of the 
 25.2   child has been entered; or 
 25.3      (b) by a person other than a parent, where a decree of 
 25.4   dissolution or legal separation has been entered or where none 
 25.5   is sought by filing a petition or motion seeking custody or 
 25.6   visitation of the child in the county where the child is 
 25.7   permanently resident or where the child is found or where an 
 25.8   earlier order for custody of the child has been entered.  A 
 25.9   person seeking visitation pursuant to this paragraph must 
 25.10  qualify under one of the provisions of section 257.022.  
 25.11     Subd. 2.  [REQUIRED NOTICE.] Written notice of a child 
 25.12  custody or parenting time or visitation proceeding shall be 
 25.13  given to the child's parent, guardian, and custodian, who may 
 25.14  appear and be heard and may file a responsive pleading.  The 
 25.15  court may, upon a showing of good cause, permit the intervention 
 25.16  of other interested parties. 
 25.17     Sec. 22.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.157, 
 25.18  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 25.19     Subdivision 1.  [IMPLEMENTATION; ADMINISTRATION.] By 
 25.20  January 1, 1998, the chief judge of each judicial district or a 
 25.21  designee shall implement one or more parent education programs 
 25.22  within the judicial district for the purpose of educating 
 25.23  parents about the impact that divorce, the restructuring of 
 25.24  families, and judicial proceedings have upon children and 
 25.25  families; methods for preventing visitation parenting time 
 25.26  conflicts; and dispute resolution options.  The chief judge of 
 25.27  each judicial district or a designee may require that children 
 25.28  attend a separate education program designed to deal with the 
 25.29  impact of divorce upon children as part of the parent education 
 25.30  program.  Each parent education program must enable persons to 
 25.31  have timely and reasonable access to education sessions. 
 25.32     Sec. 23.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.157, 
 25.33  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 25.34     Subd. 3.  [ATTENDANCE.] In a proceeding under this chapter 
 25.35  or sections 257.51 to 257.75 where custody or visitation 
 25.36  parenting time is contested, the parents of a minor child shall 
 26.1   attend an orientation and education program that meets the 
 26.2   minimum standards promulgated by the Minnesota supreme court.  
 26.3   In all other proceedings involving custody, support, 
 26.4   or visitation parenting time the court may order the parents of 
 26.5   a minor child to attend a parent education program.  The program 
 26.6   shall provide the court with names of persons who fail to attend 
 26.7   the parent education program as ordered by the court.  Persons 
 26.8   who are separated or contemplating involvement in a dissolution, 
 26.9   paternity, custody, or visitation parenting time proceeding may 
 26.10  attend a parent education program without a court order.  
 26.11  Participation in a parent education program must occur as early 
 26.12  as possible.  Parent education programs must offer an 
 26.13  opportunity to participate at all phases of a pending or 
 26.14  postdecree proceeding.  Upon request of a party and a showing of 
 26.15  good cause, the court may excuse the party from attending the 
 26.16  program.  If past or present domestic abuse, as defined in 
 26.17  chapter 518B, is alleged, the court shall not require the 
 26.18  parties to attend the same parent education sessions and shall 
 26.19  enter an order setting forth the manner in which the parties may 
 26.20  safely participate in the program. 
 26.21     Sec. 24.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.165, 
 26.22  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 26.23     Subdivision 1.  [PERMISSIVE APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN AD 
 26.24  LITEM.] In all proceedings for child custody or for dissolution 
 26.25  or legal separation where custody or visitation of parenting 
 26.26  time with a minor child is in issue, the court may appoint a 
 26.27  guardian ad litem from a panel established by the court to 
 26.28  represent the interests of the child.  The guardian ad litem 
 26.29  shall advise the court with respect to custody, support, 
 26.30  and visitation parenting time.  
 26.31     Sec. 25.  Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section 
 26.32  518.165, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 26.33     Subd. 2.  [REQUIRED APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN AD LITEM.] In 
 26.34  all proceedings for child custody or for marriage dissolution or 
 26.35  legal separation in which custody or visitation of parenting 
 26.36  time with a minor child is an issue, if the court has reason to 
 27.1   believe that the minor child is a victim of domestic child abuse 
 27.2   or neglect, as those terms are defined in sections 260C.007 and 
 27.3   626.556, respectively, the court shall appoint a guardian ad 
 27.4   litem.  The guardian ad litem shall represent the interests of 
 27.5   the child and advise the court with respect to custody, support, 
 27.6   and visitation parenting time.  If the child is represented by a 
 27.7   guardian ad litem in any other pending proceeding, the court may 
 27.8   appoint that guardian to represent the child in the custody 
 27.9   or visitation parenting time proceeding.  No guardian ad litem 
 27.10  need be appointed if the alleged domestic child abuse or neglect 
 27.11  is before the court on a juvenile dependency and neglect 
 27.12  petition.  Nothing in this subdivision requires the court to 
 27.13  appoint a guardian ad litem in any proceeding for child custody, 
 27.14  marriage dissolution, or legal separation in which an allegation 
 27.15  of domestic child abuse or neglect has not been made. 
 27.16     Sec. 26.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.175, 
 27.17  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 27.18     Subdivision 1.  [GENERAL.] (a) In all proceedings for 
 27.19  dissolution or legal separation, subsequent to the commencement 
 27.20  of the proceeding and continuing thereafter during the minority 
 27.21  of the child, the court shall, upon the request of either 
 27.22  parent, grant such rights of visitation parenting time on behalf 
 27.23  of the child and noncustodial parent as will enable the child 
 27.24  and the noncustodial parent to maintain a child to parent 
 27.25  relationship that will be in the best interests of the child.  
 27.26  If the court finds, after a hearing, that visitation parenting 
 27.27  time is likely to endanger the child's physical or emotional 
 27.28  health or impair the child's emotional development, the court 
 27.29  shall restrict visitation by parenting time with the 
 27.30  noncustodial parent as to time, place, duration, or supervision 
 27.31  and may deny visitation parenting time entirely, as the 
 27.32  circumstances warrant.  The court shall consider the age of the 
 27.33  child and the child's relationship with the noncustodial parent 
 27.34  prior to the commencement of the proceeding.  A parent's failure 
 27.35  to pay support because of the parent's inability to do so shall 
 27.36  not be sufficient cause for denial of visitation parenting time. 
 28.1      (b) The court may provide that a law enforcement officer or 
 28.2   other appropriate person will accompany a party seeking to 
 28.3   enforce or comply with visitation parenting time. 
 28.4      (c) Upon request of either party, to the extent practicable 
 28.5   a visitation an order for parenting time must include a specific 
 28.6   schedule for visitation parenting time, including the frequency 
 28.7   and duration of visitation and visitation during holidays and 
 28.8   vacations, unless visitation parenting time is restricted, 
 28.9   denied, or reserved. 
 28.10     (d) The court administrator shall provide a form for a pro 
 28.11  se motion regarding visitation parenting time disputes, which 
 28.12  includes provisions for indicating the relief requested, an 
 28.13  affidavit in which the party may state the facts of the dispute, 
 28.14  and a brief description of the visitation parenting time 
 28.15  expeditor process under section 518.1751.  The form may not 
 28.16  include a request for a change of custody.  The court shall 
 28.17  provide instructions on serving and filing the motion. 
 28.18     Sec. 27.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.175, 
 28.19  subdivision 1a, is amended to read: 
 28.20     Subd. 1a.  [DOMESTIC ABUSE; SUPERVISED VISITATION PARENTING 
 28.21  TIME.] (a) If a custodial parent requests supervised visitation 
 28.22  parenting time under subdivision 1 or 5 and an order for 
 28.23  protection under chapter 518B or a similar law of another state 
 28.24  is in effect against the noncustodial parent to protect the 
 28.25  custodial parent or the child, the judge or judicial officer 
 28.26  must consider the order for protection in making a decision 
 28.27  regarding visitation parenting time. 
 28.28     (b) The state court administrator, in consultation with 
 28.29  representatives of custodial and noncustodial parents and other 
 28.30  interested persons, shall develop standards to be met by persons 
 28.31  who are responsible for supervising visitation parenting time.  
 28.32  Either parent may challenge the appropriateness of an individual 
 28.33  chosen by the court to supervise visitation parenting time. 
 28.34     Sec. 28.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.175, 
 28.35  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 28.36     Subd. 2.  [RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND NONCUSTODIAL PARENT.] 
 29.1   Upon the request of either parent, the court may inform any 
 29.2   child of the parties, if eight years of age or older, or 
 29.3   otherwise of an age of suitable comprehension, of the rights of 
 29.4   the child and the noncustodial parent under the order or decree 
 29.5   or any substantial amendment thereof.  The custodial parent 
 29.6   shall present the child for visitation by parenting time with 
 29.7   the noncustodial parent, at such times as the court directs. 
 29.8      Sec. 29.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.175, 
 29.9   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 29.10     Subd. 3.  [MOVE TO ANOTHER STATE.] The custodial parent 
 29.11  shall not move the residence of the child to another state 
 29.12  except upon order of the court or with the consent of the 
 29.13  noncustodial parent, when the noncustodial parent has been given 
 29.14  visitation rights parenting time by the decree.  If the 
 29.15  noncustodial parent objects to the move, there must be a hearing 
 29.16  on the matter.  If the move would not be in the best interests 
 29.17  of the child or the purpose of the move is to interfere 
 29.18  with visitation rights parenting time given to the noncustodial 
 29.19  parent by the decree, the court shall not permit the child's 
 29.20  residence to be moved to another state. 
 29.21     Sec. 30.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.175, 
 29.22  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
 29.23     Subd. 6.  [REMEDIES.] (a) The court may provide for one or 
 29.24  more of the following remedies for denial of or interference 
 29.25  with court-ordered visitation parenting time as provided under 
 29.26  this subdivision.  All visitation parenting time orders must 
 29.27  include notice of the provisions of this subdivision. 
 29.28     (b) If the court finds that a person has been deprived of 
 29.29  court-ordered visitation parenting time, the court shall order 
 29.30  the custodial parent to permit additional visits parenting time 
 29.31  to compensate for the visitation parenting time of which the 
 29.32  person was deprived or the court shall make specific findings as 
 29.33  to why a request for compensatory visitation parenting time is 
 29.34  denied.  If compensatory visitation parenting time is awarded, 
 29.35  additional visits parenting time must be: 
 29.36     (1) at least of the same type and duration as the deprived 
 30.1   visit parenting time and, at the discretion of the court, may be 
 30.2   in excess of or of a different type than the deprived visit 
 30.3   parenting time; 
 30.4      (2) taken within one year after the deprived visit 
 30.5   parenting time; and 
 30.6      (3) at a time acceptable to the person deprived of 
 30.7   visitation parenting time. 
 30.8      (c) If the court finds that a party has wrongfully failed 
 30.9   to comply with a visitation parenting time order or a binding 
 30.10  agreement or decision under section 518.1751, the court may: 
 30.11     (1) impose a civil penalty of up to $500 on the party; 
 30.12     (2) require the party to post a bond with the court for a 
 30.13  specified period of time to secure the party's compliance; 
 30.14     (3) award reasonable attorney's fees and costs; 
 30.15     (4) require the party who violated the visitation parenting 
 30.16  time order or binding agreement or decision of the visitation 
 30.17  parenting time expeditor to reimburse the other party for costs 
 30.18  incurred as a result of the violation of the order or agreement 
 30.19  or decision; or 
 30.20     (5) award any other remedy that the court finds to be in 
 30.21  the best interests of the children involved. 
 30.22     A civil penalty imposed under this paragraph must be 
 30.23  deposited in the county general fund and must be used to fund 
 30.24  the costs of a visitation parenting time expeditor program in a 
 30.25  county with this program.  In other counties, the civil penalty 
 30.26  must be deposited in the state general fund. 
 30.27     (d) If the court finds that a party has been denied 
 30.28  visitation parenting time and has incurred expenses in 
 30.29  connection with the denied visitation parenting time, the court 
 30.30  may require the party who denied visitation parenting time to 
 30.31  post a bond in favor of the other party in the amount of prepaid 
 30.32  expenses associated with an upcoming planned 
 30.33  visitation parenting time. 
 30.34     (e) Proof of an unwarranted denial of or interference with 
 30.35  duly established visitation parenting time may constitute 
 30.36  contempt of court and may be sufficient cause for reversal of 
 31.1   custody. 
 31.2      Sec. 31.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.175, 
 31.3   subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
 31.4      Subd. 8.  [CARE OF CHILD BY NONCUSTODIAL PARENT.] The court 
 31.5   may allow additional visitation parenting time to the 
 31.6   noncustodial parent to provide child care while the custodial 
 31.7   parent is working if this arrangement is reasonable and in the 
 31.8   best interests of the child, as defined in section 518.17, 
 31.9   subdivision 1.  In addition, the court shall consider: 
 31.10     (1) the ability of the parents to cooperate; 
 31.11     (2) methods for resolving disputes regarding the care of 
 31.12  the child, and the parents' willingness to use those methods; 
 31.13  and 
 31.14     (3) whether domestic abuse, as defined in section 518B.01, 
 31.15  has occurred between the parties. 
 31.16     Sec. 32.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.1751, is 
 31.17  amended to read: 
 31.18     518.1751 [VISITATION PARENTING TIME DISPUTE RESOLUTION.] 
 31.19     Subdivision 1.  [VISITATION PARENTING TIME EXPEDITOR.] Upon 
 31.20  request of either party, the parties' stipulation, or upon the 
 31.21  court's own motion, the court may appoint a visitation parenting 
 31.22  time expeditor to resolve visitation parenting time disputes 
 31.23  that occur under a visitation parenting time order while a 
 31.24  matter is pending under this chapter, chapter 257 or 518A, or 
 31.25  after a decree is entered.  
 31.26     Subd. 1a.  [EXCEPTIONS.] A party may not be required to 
 31.27  refer a visitation parenting time dispute to a visitation 
 31.28  parenting time expeditor under this section if: 
 31.29     (1) one of the parties claims to be the victim of domestic 
 31.30  abuse by the other party; 
 31.31     (2) the court determines there is probable cause that one 
 31.32  of the parties or a child of the parties has been physically 
 31.33  abused or threatened with physical abuse by the other party; or 
 31.34     (3) the party is unable to pay the costs of the expeditor, 
 31.35  as provided under subdivision 2a. 
 31.36     If the court is satisfied that the parties have been 
 32.1   advised by counsel and have agreed to use the visitation 
 32.2   parenting time expeditor process and the process does not 
 32.3   involve face-to-face meeting of the parties, the court may 
 32.4   direct that the visitation parenting time expeditor process be 
 32.5   used. 
 32.6      Subd. 1b.  [PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS.] (a) The purpose of a 
 32.7   visitation parenting time expeditor is to resolve visitation 
 32.8   parenting time disputes by enforcing, interpreting, clarifying, 
 32.9   and addressing circumstances not specifically addressed by an 
 32.10  existing visitation parenting time order and, if appropriate, to 
 32.11  make a determination as to whether the existing visitation 
 32.12  parenting time order has been violated.  A visitation parenting 
 32.13  time expeditor may be appointed to resolve a one-time visitation 
 32.14  parenting time dispute or to provide ongoing 
 32.15  visitation parenting time dispute resolution services. 
 32.16     (b) For purposes of this section, "visitation parenting 
 32.17  time dispute" means a disagreement among parties 
 32.18  about visitation parenting time with a child, including a 
 32.19  dispute about an anticipated denial of a future scheduled 
 32.20  visit parenting time.  "Visitation Parenting time dispute" 
 32.21  includes a claim by a custodial parent that a noncustodial 
 32.22  parent is not visiting spending time with a child as well as a 
 32.23  claim by a noncustodial parent that a custodial parent is 
 32.24  denying or interfering with visitation parenting time. 
 32.25     (c) A "visitation parenting time expeditor" is a neutral 
 32.26  person authorized to use a mediation-arbitration process to 
 32.27  resolve visitation parenting time disputes.  A visitation 
 32.28  parenting time expeditor shall attempt to resolve a 
 32.29  visitation parenting time dispute by facilitating negotiations 
 32.30  between the parties to promote settlement and, if it becomes 
 32.31  apparent that the dispute cannot be resolved by an agreement of 
 32.32  the parties, the visitation parenting time expeditor shall make 
 32.33  a decision resolving the dispute. 
 32.34     Subd. 2.  [APPOINTMENT.] (a) The parties may stipulate to 
 32.35  the appointment of a visitation parenting time expeditor or a 
 32.36  team of two expeditors without appearing in court by submitting 
 33.1   to the court a written agreement identifying the names of the 
 33.2   individuals to be appointed by the court; the nature of the 
 33.3   dispute; the responsibilities of the visitation parenting time 
 33.4   expeditor, including whether the expeditor is appointed to 
 33.5   resolve a specific issue or on an ongoing basis; the term of the 
 33.6   appointment; and the apportionment of fees and costs.  The court 
 33.7   shall review the agreement of the parties.  
 33.8      (b) If the parties cannot agree on a visitation parenting 
 33.9   time expeditor, the court shall provide to the parties a copy of 
 33.10  the court administrator's roster of visitation parenting time 
 33.11  expeditors and require the parties to exchange the names of 
 33.12  three potential visitation parenting time expeditors by a 
 33.13  specific date.  If after exchanging names the parties are unable 
 33.14  to agree upon a visitation parenting time expeditor, the court 
 33.15  shall select the visitation parenting time expeditor and, in its 
 33.16  discretion, may appoint one expeditor or a team of two 
 33.17  visitation expeditors.  In the selection process the court must 
 33.18  give consideration to the financial circumstances of the parties 
 33.19  and the fees of those being considered as visitation parenting 
 33.20  time expeditors.  Preference must be given to persons who agree 
 33.21  to volunteer their services or who will charge a variable fee 
 33.22  for services based on the ability of the parties to pay for them.
 33.23     (c) An order appointing a visitation parenting time 
 33.24  expeditor must identify the name of the individual to be 
 33.25  appointed, the nature of the dispute, the responsibilities of 
 33.26  the visitation expeditor including whether the expeditor is 
 33.27  appointed to resolve a specific issue or on an ongoing basis, 
 33.28  the term of the appointment, the apportionment of fees, and 
 33.29  notice that if the parties are unable to reach an agreement with 
 33.30  the assistance of the visitation expeditor, the visitation 
 33.31  expeditor is authorized to make a decision resolving the dispute 
 33.32  which is binding upon the parties unless modified or vacated by 
 33.33  the court. 
 33.34     Subd. 2a.  [FEES.] Prior to appointing the visitation 
 33.35  parenting time expeditor, the court shall give the parties 
 33.36  notice that the fees of the visitation expeditor will be 
 34.1   apportioned among the parties.  In its order appointing 
 34.2   the visitation expeditor, the court shall apportion the fees of 
 34.3   the visitation expeditor among the parties, with each party 
 34.4   bearing the portion of fees that the court determines is just 
 34.5   and equitable under the circumstances.  If a party files a pro 
 34.6   se motion regarding a visitation parenting time dispute and 
 34.7   there is not a court order that provides for apportionment of 
 34.8   the fees of an expeditor, the court administrator may require 
 34.9   the party requesting the appointment of an expeditor to pay the 
 34.10  fees of the expeditor in advance.  Neither party may be required 
 34.11  to submit a dispute to a visitation expeditor if the party 
 34.12  cannot afford to pay for the fees of an expeditor and an 
 34.13  affordable expeditor is not available, unless the other party 
 34.14  agrees to pay the fees.  After fees are incurred, a party may by 
 34.15  motion request that the fees be reapportioned on equitable 
 34.16  grounds.  The court may consider the resources of the parties, 
 34.17  the nature of the dispute, and whether a party acted in bad 
 34.18  faith.  The court may consider information from the expeditor in 
 34.19  determining bad faith. 
 34.20     Subd. 2b.  [ROSTER OF VISITATION PARENTING TIME 
 34.21  EXPEDITORS.] Each court administrator shall maintain and make 
 34.22  available to the public and judicial officers a roster of 
 34.23  individuals available to serve as visitation parenting time 
 34.24  expeditors, including each individual's name, address, telephone 
 34.25  number, and fee charged, if any.  A court administrator shall 
 34.26  not place on the roster the name of an individual who has not 
 34.27  completed the training required in subdivision 2c.  If the use 
 34.28  of a visitation parenting time expeditor is initiated by 
 34.29  stipulation of the parties, the parties may agree upon a person 
 34.30  to serve as a visitation an expeditor even if that person has 
 34.31  not completed the training described in subdivision 2c.  The 
 34.32  court may appoint a person to serve as a visitation an expeditor 
 34.33  even if the person is not on the court administrator's roster, 
 34.34  but may not appoint a person who has not completed the training 
 34.35  described in subdivision 2c, unless so stipulated by the 
 34.36  parties.  To maintain one's listing on a court administrator's 
 35.1   roster of visitation parenting time expeditors, an individual 
 35.2   shall annually submit to the court administrator proof of 
 35.3   completion of continuing education requirements. 
 35.4      Subd. 2c.  [TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION 
 35.5   REQUIREMENTS.] To qualify for listing on a court administrator's 
 35.6   roster of visitation parenting time expeditors, an individual 
 35.7   shall complete a minimum of 40 hours of family mediation 
 35.8   training that has been certified by the Minnesota supreme court, 
 35.9   which must include certified training in domestic abuse issues 
 35.10  as required under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of 
 35.11  Practice for the District Courts.  To maintain one's listing on 
 35.12  a court administrator's roster of visitation parenting time 
 35.13  expeditors, an individual shall annually attend three hours of 
 35.14  continuing education about alternative dispute resolution 
 35.15  subjects.  
 35.16     Subd. 3.  [AGREEMENT OR DECISION.] (a) Within five days of 
 35.17  notice of the appointment, or within five days of notice of a 
 35.18  subsequent visitation parenting time dispute between the same 
 35.19  parties, the visitation parenting time expeditor shall meet with 
 35.20  the parties together or separately and shall make a diligent 
 35.21  effort to facilitate an agreement to resolve the visitation 
 35.22  dispute.  If a visitation parenting time dispute requires 
 35.23  immediate resolution, the visitation parenting time expeditor 
 35.24  may confer with the parties through a telephone conference or 
 35.25  similar means.  An expeditor may make a decision without 
 35.26  conferring with a party if the expeditor made a good faith 
 35.27  effort to confer with the party, but the party chose not to 
 35.28  participate in resolution of the dispute. 
 35.29     (b) If the parties do not reach an agreement, the expeditor 
 35.30  shall make a decision resolving the dispute as soon as possible 
 35.31  but not later than five days after receiving all information 
 35.32  necessary to make a decision and after the final meeting or 
 35.33  conference with the parties.  The visitation expeditor is 
 35.34  authorized to award compensatory visitation parenting time under 
 35.35  section 518.175, subdivision 6, and may recommend to the court 
 35.36  that the noncomplying party pay attorney's fees, court costs, 
 36.1   and other costs under section 518.175, subdivision 6, paragraph 
 36.2   (d), if the visitation parenting time order has been violated.  
 36.3   The visitation expeditor shall not lose authority to make a 
 36.4   decision if circumstances beyond the visitation expeditor's 
 36.5   control make it impracticable to meet the five-day timelines. 
 36.6      (c) Unless the parties mutually agree, the visitation 
 36.7   parenting time expeditor shall not make a decision that is 
 36.8   inconsistent with an existing visitation parenting time order, 
 36.9   but may make decisions interpreting or clarifying a visitation 
 36.10  parenting time order, including the development of a specific 
 36.11  schedule when the existing court order grants 
 36.12  "reasonable visitation parenting time."  
 36.13     (d) The expeditor shall put an agreement or decision in 
 36.14  writing and provide a copy to the parties.  The visitation 
 36.15  expeditor may include or omit reasons for the agreement or 
 36.16  decision.  An agreement of the parties or a decision of the 
 36.17  visitation expeditor is binding on the parties unless vacated or 
 36.18  modified by the court.  If a party does not comply with an 
 36.19  agreement of the parties or a decision of the expeditor, any 
 36.20  party may bring a motion with the court and shall attach a copy 
 36.21  of the parties' written agreement or decision of the expeditor.  
 36.22  The court may enforce, modify, or vacate the agreement of the 
 36.23  parties or the decision of the expeditor. 
 36.24     Subd. 4.  [OTHER AGREEMENTS.] This section does not 
 36.25  preclude the parties from voluntarily agreeing to submit their 
 36.26  visitation parenting time dispute to a neutral third party or 
 36.27  from otherwise resolving visitation parenting time disputes on a 
 36.28  voluntary basis. 
 36.29     Subd. 4a.  [CONFIDENTIALITY.] (a) Statements made and 
 36.30  documents produced as part of the visitation parenting time 
 36.31  expeditor process which are not otherwise discoverable are not 
 36.32  subject to discovery or other disclosure and are not admissible 
 36.33  into evidence for any purpose at trial or in any other 
 36.34  proceeding, including impeachment. 
 36.35     (b) Sworn testimony may be used in subsequent proceedings 
 36.36  for any purpose for which it is admissible under the rules of 
 37.1   evidence.  Visitation Parenting time expeditors, and lawyers for 
 37.2   the parties to the extent of their participation in 
 37.3   the visitation parenting time expeditor process, must not be 
 37.4   subpoenaed or called as witnesses in court proceedings. 
 37.5      (c) Notes, records, and recollections of visitation 
 37.6   parenting time expeditors are confidential and must not be 
 37.7   disclosed to the parties, the public, or anyone other than 
 37.8   the visitation parenting time expeditor unless:  
 37.9      (1) all parties and the visitation expeditor agree in 
 37.10  writing to the disclosure; or 
 37.11     (2) disclosure is required by law or other applicable 
 37.12  professional codes. 
 37.13     Notes and records of visitation parenting time expeditors 
 37.14  must not be disclosed to the court unless after a hearing the 
 37.15  court determines that the notes or records should be reviewed in 
 37.16  camera.  Those notes or records must not be released by the 
 37.17  court unless it determines that they disclose information 
 37.18  showing illegal violation of the criminal law of the state. 
 37.19     Subd. 5.  [IMMUNITY.] A visitation parenting time expeditor 
 37.20  is immune from civil liability for actions taken or not taken 
 37.21  when acting under this section. 
 37.22     Subd. 5a.  [REMOVAL.] If a visitation parenting time 
 37.23  expeditor has been appointed on a long-term basis, a party or 
 37.24  the visitation expeditor may file a motion seeking to have the 
 37.25  expeditor removed for good cause shown. 
 37.26     Subd. 6.  [MANDATORY VISITATION PARENTING TIME DISPUTE 
 37.27  RESOLUTION.] Subject to subdivision 1a, a judicial district may 
 37.28  establish a mandatory visitation parenting time dispute 
 37.29  resolution program as provided in this subdivision.  In a 
 37.30  district where a program has been established, parties may be 
 37.31  required to submit visitation parenting time disputes to 
 37.32  a visitation parenting time expeditor as a prerequisite to a 
 37.33  motion on the dispute being heard by the court, or either party 
 37.34  may submit the dispute to a visitation an expeditor.  A party 
 37.35  may file a motion with the court for purposes of obtaining a 
 37.36  court date, if necessary, but a hearing may not be held until 
 38.1   resolution of the dispute with the visitation parenting time 
 38.2   expeditor.  The appointment of a visitation an expeditor must be 
 38.3   in accordance with subdivision 2.  Visitation Expeditor fees 
 38.4   must be paid in accordance with subdivision 2a.  
 38.5      Sec. 33.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.176, 
 38.6   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 38.7      Subd. 2.  If both parents or all contestants agree to the 
 38.8   order, or if the court finds that in the absence of the order 
 38.9   the child's physical or emotional health is likely to be 
 38.10  endangered or the child's emotional development impaired, the 
 38.11  court may order the local social services agency or the 
 38.12  department of court services to exercise continuing supervision 
 38.13  over the case under guidelines established by the court to 
 38.14  assure that the custodial or visitation parenting time terms of 
 38.15  the decree are carried out. 
 38.16     Sec. 34.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.177, is 
 38.17  amended to read: 
 38.18     518.177 [NOTIFICATION REGARDING DEPRIVATION OF PARENTAL 
 38.19  RIGHTS LAW.] 
 38.20     Every court order and judgment and decree concerning 
 38.21  custody of or parenting time or visitation with a minor child 
 38.22  shall contain the notice set out in section 518.68, subdivision 
 38.23  2.  
 38.24     Sec. 35.  Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section 
 38.25  518.178, is amended to read: 
 38.26     518.178 [VISITATION PARENTING TIME AND SUPPORT REVIEW 
 38.27  HEARING.] 
 38.28     Upon motion of either party, the court shall conduct a 
 38.29  hearing to review compliance with the visitation parenting time 
 38.30  and child support provisions set forth in a decree of 
 38.31  dissolution or legal separation or an order that establishes 
 38.32  child custody, visitation parenting time, and support rights and 
 38.33  obligations of parents.  The state court administrator shall 
 38.34  prepare, and each court administrator shall make available, 
 38.35  simplified pro se forms for reviewing visitation parenting time 
 38.36  and child support disputes.  The court may impose any visitation 
 39.1   parenting time enforcement remedy available under sections 
 39.2   518.175 and 518.1751, and any support enforcement remedy 
 39.3   available under section 518.551. 
 39.4      Sec. 36.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.179, 
 39.5   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 39.6      Subdivision 1.  [SEEKING CUSTODY OR VISITATION PARENTING 
 39.7   TIME.] Notwithstanding any contrary provision in section 518.17 
 39.8   or 518.175, if a person seeking child custody or visitation 
 39.9   parenting time has been convicted of a crime described in 
 39.10  subdivision 2, the person seeking custody or visitation 
 39.11  parenting time has the burden to prove that custody 
 39.12  or visitation parenting time by that person is in the best 
 39.13  interests of the child if: 
 39.14     (1) the conviction occurred within the preceding five 
 39.15  years; 
 39.16     (2) the person is currently incarcerated, on probation, or 
 39.17  under supervised release for the offense; or 
 39.18     (3) the victim of the crime was a family or household 
 39.19  member as defined in section 518B.01, subdivision 2.  
 39.20     If this section applies, the court may not grant custody or 
 39.21  visitation parenting time to the person unless it finds that the 
 39.22  custody or visitation parenting time is in the best interests of 
 39.23  the child.  If the victim of the crime was a family or household 
 39.24  member, the standard of proof is clear and convincing evidence.  
 39.25  A guardian ad litem must be appointed in any case where this 
 39.26  section applies. 
 39.27     Sec. 37.  Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section 
 39.28  518.551, subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
 39.29     Subd. 5.  [NOTICE TO PUBLIC AUTHORITY; GUIDELINES.] (a) The 
 39.30  petitioner shall notify the public authority of all proceedings 
 39.31  for dissolution, legal separation, determination of parentage or 
 39.32  for the custody of a child, if either party is receiving public 
 39.33  assistance or applies for it subsequent to the commencement of 
 39.34  the proceeding.  The notice must contain the full names of the 
 39.35  parties to the proceeding, their social security account 
 39.36  numbers, and their birth dates.  After receipt of the notice, 
 40.1   the court shall set child support as provided in this 
 40.2   subdivision.  The court may order either or both parents owing a 
 40.3   duty of support to a child of the marriage to pay an amount 
 40.4   reasonable or necessary for the child's support, without regard 
 40.5   to marital misconduct.  The court shall approve a child support 
 40.6   stipulation of the parties if each party is represented by 
 40.7   independent counsel, unless the stipulation does not meet the 
 40.8   conditions of paragraph (i).  In other cases the court shall 
 40.9   determine and order child support in a specific dollar amount in 
 40.10  accordance with the guidelines and the other factors set forth 
 40.11  in paragraph (c) and any departure therefrom.  The court may 
 40.12  also order the obligor to pay child support in the form of a 
 40.13  percentage share of the obligor's net bonuses, commissions, or 
 40.14  other forms of compensation, in addition to, or if the obligor 
 40.15  receives no base pay, in lieu of, an order for a specific dollar 
 40.16  amount. 
 40.17     (b) The court shall derive a specific dollar amount for 
 40.18  child support by multiplying the obligor's net income by the 
 40.19  percentage indicated by the following guidelines:  
 40.20  Net Income Per            Number of Children 
 40.21  Month of Obligor 
 40.22                1     2     3     4     5     6    7 or 
 40.23                                                   more 
 40.24  $550 and Below     Order based on the ability of the 
 40.25                     obligor to provide support  
 40.26                     at these income levels, or at higher  
 40.27                     levels, if the obligor has 
 40.28                     the earning ability. 
 40.29  $551 - 600   16%   19%   22%   25%   28%   30%   32% 
 40.30  $601 - 650   17%   21%   24%   27%   29%   32%   34% 
 40.31  $651 - 700   18%   22%   25%   28%   31%   34%   36% 
 40.32  $701 - 750   19%   23%   27%   30%   33%   36%   38% 
 40.33  $751 - 800   20%   24%   28%   31%   35%   38%   40% 
 40.34  $801 - 850   21%   25%   29%   33%   36%   40%   42% 
 40.35  $851 - 900   22%   27%   31%   34%   38%   41%   44% 
 40.36  $901 - 950   23%   28%   32%   36%   40%   43%   46% 
 41.1   $951 - 1000  24%   29%   34%   38%   41%   45%   48% 
 41.2   $1001- 5000  25%   30%   35%   39%   43%   47%   50% 
 41.3   or the amount 
 41.4   in effect under
 41.5   paragraph (k)
 41.6      Guidelines for support for an obligor with a monthly income 
 41.7   in excess of the income limit currently in effect under 
 41.8   paragraph (k) shall be the same dollar amounts as provided for 
 41.9   in the guidelines for an obligor with a monthly income equal to 
 41.10  the limit in effect. 
 41.11  Net Income defined as: 
 41.12           
 41.13           Total monthly 
 41.14           income less           *(i) Federal Income Tax 
 41.15                                *(ii) State Income Tax 
 41.16                                (iii) Social Security
 41.17                                       Deductions 
 41.18                                 (iv) Reasonable
 41.19                                       Pension Deductions
 41.20           *Standard 
 41.21           Deductions apply-      (v) Union Dues 
 41.22           use of tax tables     (vi) Cost of Dependent Health
 41.23           recommended                 Insurance Coverage  
 41.24                                (vii) Cost of Individual or Group
 41.25                                       Health/Hospitalization
 41.26                                       Coverage or an        
 41.27                                       Amount for Actual 
 41.28                                       Medical Expenses   
 41.29                               (viii) A Child Support or  
 41.30                                       Maintenance Order that is
 41.31                                       Currently Being Paid. 
 41.32     "Net income" does not include: 
 41.33     (1) the income of the obligor's spouse, but does include 
 41.34  in-kind payments received by the obligor in the course of 
 41.35  employment, self-employment, or operation of a business if the 
 41.36  payments reduce the obligor's living expenses; or 
 42.1      (2) compensation received by a party for employment in 
 42.2   excess of a 40-hour work week, provided that: 
 42.3      (i) support is nonetheless ordered in an amount at least 
 42.4   equal to the guidelines amount based on income not excluded 
 42.5   under this clause; and 
 42.6      (ii) the party demonstrates, and the court finds, that: 
 42.7      (A) the excess employment began after the filing of the 
 42.8   petition for dissolution; 
 42.9      (B) the excess employment reflects an increase in the work 
 42.10  schedule or hours worked over that of the two years immediately 
 42.11  preceding the filing of the petition; 
 42.12     (C) the excess employment is voluntary and not a condition 
 42.13  of employment; 
 42.14     (D) the excess employment is in the nature of additional, 
 42.15  part-time or overtime employment compensable by the hour or 
 42.16  fraction of an hour; and 
 42.17     (E) the party's compensation structure has not been changed 
 42.18  for the purpose of affecting a support or maintenance obligation.
 42.19     The court shall review the work-related and 
 42.20  education-related child care costs paid and shall allocate the 
 42.21  costs to each parent in proportion to each parent's net income, 
 42.22  as determined under this subdivision, after the transfer of 
 42.23  child support and spousal maintenance, unless the allocation 
 42.24  would be substantially unfair to either parent.  There is a 
 42.25  presumption of substantial unfairness if after the sum total of 
 42.26  child support, spousal maintenance, and child care costs is 
 42.27  subtracted from the noncustodial parent's income, the income is 
 42.28  at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.  The 
 42.29  cost of child care for purposes of this paragraph is 75 percent 
 42.30  of the actual cost paid for child care, to reflect the 
 42.31  approximate value of state and federal tax credits available to 
 42.32  the custodial parent.  The actual cost paid for child care is 
 42.33  the total amount received by the child care provider for the 
 42.34  child or children of the obligor from the obligee or any public 
 42.35  agency.  The court shall require verification of employment or 
 42.36  school attendance and documentation of child care expenses from 
 43.1   the obligee and the public agency, if applicable.  If child care 
 43.2   expenses fluctuate during the year because of seasonal 
 43.3   employment or school attendance of the obligee or extended 
 43.4   periods of visitation parenting time with the obligor, the court 
 43.5   shall determine child care expenses based on an average monthly 
 43.6   cost.  The amount allocated for child care expenses is 
 43.7   considered child support but is not subject to a cost-of-living 
 43.8   adjustment under section 518.641.  The amount allocated for 
 43.9   child care expenses terminates when either party notifies the 
 43.10  public authority that the child care costs have ended and 
 43.11  without any legal action on the part of either party.  The 
 43.12  public authority shall verify the information received under 
 43.13  this provision before authorizing termination.  The termination 
 43.14  is effective as of the date of the notification.  In other cases 
 43.15  where there is a substantial increase or decrease in child care 
 43.16  expenses, the parties may modify the order under section 518.64. 
 43.17     The court may allow the noncustodial parent to care for the 
 43.18  child while the custodial parent is working, as provided in 
 43.19  section 518.175, subdivision 8.  Allowing the noncustodial 
 43.20  parent to care for the child under section 518.175, subdivision 
 43.21  8, is not a reason to deviate from the guidelines. 
 43.22     (c) In addition to the child support guidelines, the court 
 43.23  shall take into consideration the following factors in setting 
 43.24  or modifying child support or in determining whether to deviate 
 43.25  from the guidelines: 
 43.26     (1) all earnings, income, and resources of the parents, 
 43.27  including real and personal property, but excluding income from 
 43.28  excess employment of the obligor or obligee that meets the 
 43.29  criteria of paragraph (b), clause (2)(ii); 
 43.30     (2) the financial needs and resources, physical and 
 43.31  emotional condition, and educational needs of the child or 
 43.32  children to be supported; 
 43.33     (3) the standard of living the child would have enjoyed had 
 43.34  the marriage not been dissolved, but recognizing that the 
 43.35  parents now have separate households; 
 43.36     (4) which parent receives the income taxation dependency 
 44.1   exemption and what financial benefit the parent receives from 
 44.2   it; 
 44.3      (5) the parents' debts as provided in paragraph (d); and 
 44.4      (6) the obligor's receipt of public assistance under the 
 44.5   AFDC program formerly codified under sections 256.72 to 256.82 
 44.6   or 256B.01 to 256B.40 and chapter 256J or 256K.  
 44.7      (d) In establishing or modifying a support obligation, the 
 44.8   court may consider debts owed to private creditors, but only if: 
 44.9      (1) the right to support has not been assigned under 
 44.10  section 256.741; 
 44.11     (2) the court determines that the debt was reasonably 
 44.12  incurred for necessary support of the child or parent or for the 
 44.13  necessary generation of income.  If the debt was incurred for 
 44.14  the necessary generation of income, the court shall consider 
 44.15  only the amount of debt that is essential to the continuing 
 44.16  generation of income; and 
 44.17     (3) the party requesting a departure produces a sworn 
 44.18  schedule of the debts, with supporting documentation, showing 
 44.19  goods or services purchased, the recipient of them, the amount 
 44.20  of the original debt, the outstanding balance, the monthly 
 44.21  payment, and the number of months until the debt will be fully 
 44.22  paid. 
 44.23     (e) Any schedule prepared under paragraph (d), clause (3), 
 44.24  shall contain a statement that the debt will be fully paid after 
 44.25  the number of months shown in the schedule, barring emergencies 
 44.26  beyond the party's control.  
 44.27     (f) Any further departure below the guidelines that is 
 44.28  based on a consideration of debts owed to private creditors 
 44.29  shall not exceed 18 months in duration, after which the support 
 44.30  shall increase automatically to the level ordered by the court.  
 44.31  Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit one or 
 44.32  more step increases in support to reflect debt retirement during 
 44.33  the 18-month period.  
 44.34     (g) If payment of debt is ordered pursuant to this section, 
 44.35  the payment shall be ordered to be in the nature of child 
 44.36  support.  
 45.1      (h) Nothing shall preclude the court from receiving 
 45.2   evidence on the above factors to determine if the guidelines 
 45.3   should be exceeded or modified in a particular case.  
 45.4      (i) The guidelines in this subdivision are a rebuttable 
 45.5   presumption and shall be used in all cases when establishing or 
 45.6   modifying child support.  If the court does not deviate from the 
 45.7   guidelines, the court shall make written findings concerning the 
 45.8   amount of the obligor's income used as the basis for the 
 45.9   guidelines calculation and any other significant evidentiary 
 45.10  factors affecting the determination of child support.  If the 
 45.11  court deviates from the guidelines, the court shall make written 
 45.12  findings giving the amount of support calculated under the 
 45.13  guidelines, the reasons for the deviation, and shall 
 45.14  specifically address the criteria in paragraph (c) and how the 
 45.15  deviation serves the best interest of the child.  The court may 
 45.16  deviate from the guidelines if both parties agree and the court 
 45.17  makes written findings that it is in the best interests of the 
 45.18  child, except that in cases where child support payments are 
 45.19  assigned to the public agency under section 256.741, the court 
 45.20  may deviate downward only as provided in paragraph (j).  Nothing 
 45.21  in this paragraph prohibits the court from deviating in other 
 45.22  cases.  The provisions of this paragraph apply whether or not 
 45.23  the parties are each represented by independent counsel and have 
 45.24  entered into a written agreement.  The court shall review 
 45.25  stipulations presented to it for conformity to the guidelines 
 45.26  and the court is not required to conduct a hearing, but the 
 45.27  parties shall provide the documentation of earnings required 
 45.28  under subdivision 5b. 
 45.29     (j) If the child support payments are assigned to the 
 45.30  public agency under section 256.741, the court may not deviate 
 45.31  downward from the child support guidelines unless the court 
 45.32  specifically finds that the failure to deviate downward would 
 45.33  impose an extreme hardship on the obligor. 
 45.34     (k) The dollar amount of the income limit for application 
 45.35  of the guidelines must be adjusted on July 1 of every 
 45.36  even-numbered year to reflect cost-of-living changes.  The 
 46.1   supreme court shall select the index for the adjustment from the 
 46.2   indices listed in section 518.641.  The state court 
 46.3   administrator shall make the changes in the dollar amount 
 46.4   required by this paragraph available to courts and the public on 
 46.5   or before April 30 of the year in which the amount is to change. 
 46.6      (l) In establishing or modifying child support, if a child 
 46.7   receives a child's insurance benefit under United States Code, 
 46.8   title 42, section 402, because the obligor is entitled to old 
 46.9   age or disability insurance benefits, the amount of support 
 46.10  ordered shall be offset by the amount of the child's benefit.  
 46.11  The court shall make findings regarding the obligor's income 
 46.12  from all sources, the child support amount calculated under this 
 46.13  section, the amount of the child's benefit, and the obligor's 
 46.14  child support obligation.  Any benefit received by the child in 
 46.15  a given month in excess of the child support obligation shall 
 46.16  not be treated as an arrearage payment or a future payment. 
 46.17     Sec. 38.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.612, is 
 46.18  amended to read: 
 46.19     518.612 [INDEPENDENCE OF PROVISIONS OF DECREE OR TEMPORARY 
 46.20  ORDER.] 
 46.21     Failure by a party to make support payments is not a 
 46.22  defense to:  interference with visitation rights parenting time; 
 46.23  or without the permission of the court or the noncustodial 
 46.24  parent removing a child from this state.  Nor is interference 
 46.25  with visitation rights parenting time or taking a child from 
 46.26  this state without permission of the court or the noncustodial 
 46.27  parent a defense to nonpayment of support.  If a party fails to 
 46.28  make support payments, or interferes with visitation rights 
 46.29  parenting time, or without permission of the court or the 
 46.30  noncustodial parent removes a child from this state, the other 
 46.31  party may petition the court for an appropriate order.  
 46.32     Sec. 39.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.619, 
 46.33  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 46.34     Subdivision 1.  [MEDIATION PROCEEDING.] Except as provided 
 46.35  in subdivision 2, if it appears on the face of the petition or 
 46.36  other application for an order or modification of an order for 
 47.1   the custody of a child that custody or visitation parenting time 
 47.2   is contested, or that any issue pertinent to a custody or 
 47.3   visitation parenting time determination, including visitation 
 47.4   parenting time rights, is unresolved, the matter may be set for 
 47.5   mediation of the contested issue prior to, concurrent with, or 
 47.6   subsequent to the setting of the matter for hearing.  The 
 47.7   purpose of the mediation proceeding is to reduce acrimony which 
 47.8   may exist between the parties and to develop an agreement that 
 47.9   is supportive of the child's best interests.  The mediator shall 
 47.10  use best efforts to effect a settlement of the custody 
 47.11  or visitation parenting time dispute, but shall have no coercive 
 47.12  authority. 
 47.13     Sec. 40.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.68, 
 47.14  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 47.15     Subdivision 1.  [REQUIREMENT.] Every court order or 
 47.16  judgment and decree that provides for child support, spousal 
 47.17  maintenance, custody, or visitation parenting time must contain 
 47.18  certain notices as set out in subdivision 2.  The information in 
 47.19  the notices must be concisely stated in plain language.  The 
 47.20  notices must be in clearly legible print, but may not exceed two 
 47.21  pages.  An order or judgment and decree without the notice 
 47.22  remains subject to all statutes.  The court may waive all or 
 47.23  part of the notice required under subdivision 2 relating to 
 47.24  parental rights under section 518.17, subdivision 3, if it finds 
 47.25  it is necessary to protect the welfare of a party or child. 
 47.26     Sec. 41.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518.68, 
 47.27  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 47.28     Subd. 2.  [CONTENTS.] The required notices must be 
 47.29  substantially as follows: 
 47.30                          IMPORTANT NOTICE 
 47.31  1.  PAYMENTS TO PUBLIC AGENCY 
 47.32     According to Minnesota Statutes, section 518.551, 
 47.33     subdivision 1, payments ordered for maintenance and support 
 47.34     must be paid to the public agency responsible for child 
 47.35     support enforcement as long as the person entitled to 
 47.36     receive the payments is receiving or has applied for public 
 48.1      assistance or has applied for support and maintenance 
 48.2      collection services.  MAIL PAYMENTS TO: 
 48.3   2.  DEPRIVING ANOTHER OF CUSTODIAL OR PARENTAL RIGHTS -- A 
 48.4   FELONY 
 48.5      A person may be charged with a felony who conceals a minor 
 48.6      child or takes, obtains, retains, or fails to return a 
 48.7      minor child from or to the child's parent (or person with 
 48.8      custodial or visitation rights), according to Minnesota 
 48.9      Statutes, section 609.26.  A copy of that section is 
 48.10     available from any district court clerk. 
 48.11  3.  RULES OF SUPPORT, MAINTENANCE, VISITATION PARENTING TIME 
 48.12     (a) Payment of support or spousal maintenance is to be as 
 48.13     ordered, and the giving of gifts or making purchases of 
 48.14     food, clothing, and the like will not fulfill the 
 48.15     obligation. 
 48.16     (b) Payment of support must be made as it becomes due, and 
 48.17     failure to secure or denial of rights of visitation 
 48.18     parenting time is NOT an excuse for nonpayment, but the 
 48.19     aggrieved party must seek relief through a proper motion 
 48.20     filed with the court. 
 48.21     (c) Nonpayment of support is not grounds to deny visitation 
 48.22     parenting time.  The party entitled to receive support may 
 48.23     apply for support and collection services, file a contempt 
 48.24     motion, or obtain a judgment as provided in Minnesota 
 48.25     Statutes, section 548.091.  
 48.26     (d) The payment of support or spousal maintenance takes 
 48.27     priority over payment of debts and other obligations. 
 48.28     (e) A party who accepts additional obligations of support 
 48.29     does so with the full knowledge of the party's prior 
 48.30     obligation under this proceeding. 
 48.31     (f) Child support or maintenance is based on annual income, 
 48.32     and it is the responsibility of a person with seasonal 
 48.33     employment to budget income so that payments are made 
 48.34     throughout the year as ordered. 
 48.35     (g) If there is a layoff or a pay reduction, support may be 
 48.36     reduced as of the time of the layoff or pay reduction if a 
 49.1      motion to reduce the support is served and filed with the 
 49.2      court at that time, but any such reduction must be ordered 
 49.3      by the court.  The court is not permitted to reduce support 
 49.4      retroactively, except as provided in Minnesota Statutes, 
 49.5      section 518.64, subdivision 2, paragraph (c).  
 49.6      (h) Reasonable visitation parenting time guidelines are 
 49.7      contained in Appendix B, which is available from the court 
 49.8      administrator. 
 49.9   4.  PARENTAL RIGHTS FROM MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 518.17, 
 49.10  SUBDIVISION 3 
 49.11     Unless otherwise provided by the Court: 
 49.12     (a) Each party has the right of access to, and to receive 
 49.13     copies of, school, medical, dental, religious training, and 
 49.14     other important records and information about the minor 
 49.15     children.  Each party has the right of access to 
 49.16     information regarding health or dental insurance available 
 49.17     to the minor children.  Presentation of a copy of this 
 49.18     order to the custodian of a record or other information 
 49.19     about the minor children constitutes sufficient 
 49.20     authorization for the release of the record or information 
 49.21     to the requesting party. 
 49.22     (b) Each party shall keep the other informed as to the name 
 49.23     and address of the school of attendance of the minor 
 49.24     children.  Each party has the right to be informed by 
 49.25     school officials about the children's welfare, educational 
 49.26     progress and status, and to attend school and parent 
 49.27     teacher conferences.  The school is not required to hold a 
 49.28     separate conference for each party. 
 49.29     (c) In case of an accident or serious illness of a minor 
 49.30     child, each party shall notify the other party of the 
 49.31     accident or illness, and the name of the health care 
 49.32     provider and the place of treatment. 
 49.33     (d) Each party has the right of reasonable access and 
 49.34     telephone contact with the minor children. 
 49.35  5.  WAGE AND INCOME DEDUCTION OF SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE 
 49.36     Child support and/or spousal maintenance may be withheld 
 50.1      from income, with or without notice to the person obligated 
 50.2      to pay, when the conditions of Minnesota Statutes, section 
 50.3      518.6111 have been met.  A copy of those sections is 
 50.4      available from any district court clerk. 
 50.5   6.  CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR RESIDENCE 
 50.6      Unless otherwise ordered, each party shall notify the other 
 50.7      party, the court, and the public authority responsible for 
 50.8      collection, if applicable, of the following information 
 50.9      within ten days of any change:  the residential and mailing 
 50.10     address, telephone number, driver's license number, social 
 50.11     security number, and name, address, and telephone number of 
 50.12     the employer. 
 50.13  7.  COST OF LIVING INCREASE OF SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE 
 50.14     Child support and/or spousal maintenance may be adjusted 
 50.15     every two years based upon a change in the cost of living 
 50.16     (using Department of Labor Consumer Price Index .........., 
 50.17     unless otherwise specified in this order) when the 
 50.18     conditions of Minnesota Statutes, section 518.641, are met. 
 50.19     Cost of living increases are compounded.  A copy of 
 50.20     Minnesota Statutes, section 518.641, and forms necessary to 
 50.21     request or contest a cost of living increase are available 
 50.22     from any district court clerk. 
 50.23  8.  JUDGMENTS FOR UNPAID SUPPORT 
 50.24     If a person fails to make a child support payment, the 
 50.25     payment owed becomes a judgment against the person 
 50.26     responsible to make the payment by operation of law on or 
 50.27     after the date the payment is due, and the person entitled 
 50.28     to receive the payment or the public agency may obtain 
 50.29     entry and docketing of the judgment WITHOUT NOTICE to the 
 50.30     person responsible to make the payment under Minnesota 
 50.31     Statutes, section 548.091.  Interest begins to accrue on a 
 50.32     payment or installment of child support whenever the unpaid 
 50.33     amount due is greater than the current support due, 
 50.34     according to Minnesota Statutes, section 548.091, 
 50.35     subdivision 1a.  
 50.36  9.  JUDGMENTS FOR UNPAID MAINTENANCE 
 51.1      A judgment for unpaid spousal maintenance may be entered 
 51.2      when the conditions of Minnesota Statutes, section 548.091, 
 51.3      are met.  A copy of that section is available from any 
 51.4      district court clerk. 
 51.5   10.  ATTORNEY FEES AND COLLECTION COSTS FOR ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD 
 51.6   SUPPORT 
 51.7      A judgment for attorney fees and other collection costs 
 51.8      incurred in enforcing a child support order will be entered 
 51.9      against the person responsible to pay support when the 
 51.10     conditions of section 518.14, subdivision 2, are met.  A 
 51.11     copy of section 518.14 and forms necessary to request or 
 51.12     contest these attorney fees and collection costs are 
 51.13     available from any district court clerk. 
 51.14  11.  VISITATION PARENTING TIME EXPEDITOR PROCESS 
 51.15     On request of either party or on its own motion, the court 
 51.16     may appoint a visitation parenting time expeditor to 
 51.17     resolve visitation parenting time disputes under Minnesota 
 51.18     Statutes, section 518.1751.  A copy of that section and a 
 51.19     description of the expeditor process is available from any 
 51.20     district court clerk. 
 51.21  12.  VISITATION PARENTING TIME REMEDIES AND PENALTIES 
 51.22     Remedies and penalties for the wrongful denial of 
 51.23     visitation rights parenting time are available under 
 51.24     Minnesota Statutes, section 518.175, subdivision 6.  These 
 51.25     include compensatory visitation parenting time; civil 
 51.26     penalties; bond requirements; contempt; and reversal of 
 51.27     custody.  A copy of that subdivision and forms for 
 51.28     requesting relief are available from any district court 
 51.29     clerk. 
 51.30     Sec. 42.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518B.01, 
 51.31  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
 51.32     Subd. 4.  [ORDER FOR PROTECTION.] There shall exist an 
 51.33  action known as a petition for an order for protection in cases 
 51.34  of domestic abuse.  
 51.35     (a) A petition for relief under this section may be made by 
 51.36  any family or household member personally or by a family or 
 52.1   household member, a guardian as defined in section 524.1-201, 
 52.2   clause (20), or, if the court finds that it is in the best 
 52.3   interests of the minor, by a reputable adult age 25 or older on 
 52.4   behalf of minor family or household members.  A minor age 16 or 
 52.5   older may make a petition on the minor's own behalf against a 
 52.6   spouse or former spouse, or a person with whom the minor has a 
 52.7   child in common, if the court determines that the minor has 
 52.8   sufficient maturity and judgment and that it is in the best 
 52.9   interests of the minor. 
 52.10     (b) A petition for relief shall allege the existence of 
 52.11  domestic abuse, and shall be accompanied by an affidavit made 
 52.12  under oath stating the specific facts and circumstances from 
 52.13  which relief is sought.  
 52.14     (c) A petition for relief must state whether the petitioner 
 52.15  has ever had an order for protection in effect against the 
 52.16  respondent. 
 52.17     (d) A petition for relief must state whether there is an 
 52.18  existing order for protection in effect under this chapter 
 52.19  governing both the parties and whether there is a pending 
 52.20  lawsuit, complaint, petition or other action between the parties 
 52.21  under chapter 257, 518, 518A, 518B, or 518C.  The court 
 52.22  administrator shall verify the terms of any existing order 
 52.23  governing the parties.  The court may not delay granting relief 
 52.24  because of the existence of a pending action between the parties 
 52.25  or the necessity of verifying the terms of an existing order.  A 
 52.26  subsequent order in a separate action under this chapter may 
 52.27  modify only the provision of an existing order that grants 
 52.28  relief authorized under subdivision 6, paragraph (a), clause 
 52.29  (1).  A petition for relief may be granted, regardless of 
 52.30  whether there is a pending action between the parties.  
 52.31     (e) The court shall provide simplified forms and clerical 
 52.32  assistance to help with the writing and filing of a petition 
 52.33  under this section.  
 52.34     (f) The court shall advise a petitioner under paragraph (e) 
 52.35  of the right to file a motion and affidavit and to sue in forma 
 52.36  pauperis pursuant to section 563.01 and shall assist with the 
 53.1   writing and filing of the motion and affidavit.  
 53.2      (g) The court shall advise a petitioner under paragraph (e) 
 53.3   of the right to serve the respondent by published notice under 
 53.4   subdivision 5, paragraph (b), if the respondent is avoiding 
 53.5   personal service by concealment or otherwise, and shall assist 
 53.6   with the writing and filing of the affidavit. 
 53.7      (h) The court shall advise the petitioner of the right to 
 53.8   seek restitution under the petition for relief. 
 53.9      (i) The court shall advise the petitioner of the right to 
 53.10  request a hearing under subdivision 7, paragraph (c).  If the 
 53.11  petitioner does not request a hearing, the court shall advise 
 53.12  the petitioner that the respondent may request a hearing and 
 53.13  that notice of the hearing date and time will be provided to the 
 53.14  petitioner by mail at least five days before the hearing. 
 53.15     (j) The court shall advise the petitioner of the right to 
 53.16  request supervised visitation parenting time, as provided in 
 53.17  section 518.175, subdivision 1a. 
 53.18     Sec. 43.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 518B.01, 
 53.19  subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
 53.20     Subd. 8.  [SERVICE; ALTERNATE SERVICE; PUBLICATION; 
 53.21  NOTICE.] (a) The petition and any order issued under this 
 53.22  section shall be served on the respondent personally. 
 53.23     (b) When service is made out of this state and in the 
 53.24  United States, it may be proved by the affidavit of the person 
 53.25  making the service.  When service is made outside the United 
 53.26  States, it may be proved by the affidavit of the person making 
 53.27  the service, taken before and certified by any United States 
 53.28  minister, charge d'affaires, commissioner, consul, or commercial 
 53.29  agent, or other consular or diplomatic officer of the United 
 53.30  States appointed to reside in the other country, including all 
 53.31  deputies or other representatives of the officer authorized to 
 53.32  perform their duties; or before an office authorized to 
 53.33  administer an oath with the certificate of an officer of a court 
 53.34  of record of the country in which the affidavit is taken as to 
 53.35  the identity and authority of the officer taking the affidavit.  
 53.36     (c) If personal service cannot be made, the court may order 
 54.1   service of the petition and any order issued under this section 
 54.2   by alternate means, or by publication, which publication must be 
 54.3   made as in other actions.  The application for alternate service 
 54.4   must include the last known location of the respondent; the 
 54.5   petitioner's most recent contacts with the respondent; the last 
 54.6   known location of the respondent's employment; the names and 
 54.7   locations of the respondent's parents, siblings, children, and 
 54.8   other close relatives; the names and locations of other persons 
 54.9   who are likely to know the respondent's whereabouts; and a 
 54.10  description of efforts to locate those persons. 
 54.11     The court shall consider the length of time the 
 54.12  respondent's location has been unknown, the likelihood that the 
 54.13  respondent's location will become known, the nature of the 
 54.14  relief sought, and the nature of efforts made to locate the 
 54.15  respondent.  The court shall order service by first class mail, 
 54.16  forwarding address requested, to any addresses where there is a 
 54.17  reasonable possibility that mail or information will be 
 54.18  forwarded or communicated to the respondent.  
 54.19     The court may also order publication, within or without the 
 54.20  state, but only if it might reasonably succeed in notifying the 
 54.21  respondent of the proceeding.  Service shall be deemed complete 
 54.22  14 days after mailing or 14 days after court-ordered publication.
 54.23     (d) A petition and any order issued under this section must 
 54.24  include a notice to the respondent that if an order for 
 54.25  protection is issued to protect the petitioner or a child of the 
 54.26  parties, upon request of the petitioner in any visitation 
 54.27  parenting time proceeding, the court shall consider the order 
 54.28  for protection in making a decision regarding visitation 
 54.29  parenting time.  
 54.30     Sec. 44.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 519.11, 
 54.31  subdivision 1a, is amended to read: 
 54.32     Subd. 1a.  [POSTNUPTIAL CONTRACT.] (a) Spouses who are 
 54.33  legally married under the laws of this state may enter into a 
 54.34  postnuptial contract or settlement which is valid and 
 54.35  enforceable if it: 
 54.36     (1) complies with the requirements for antenuptial 
 55.1   contracts or settlements in this section and in the law of this 
 55.2   state, including, but not limited to, the requirement that it be 
 55.3   procedurally and substantively fair and equitable both at the 
 55.4   time of its execution and at the time of its enforcement; and 
 55.5      (2) complies with the requirements for postnuptial 
 55.6   contracts or settlements in this section. 
 55.7      (b) A postnuptial contract or settlement that conforms with 
 55.8   this section may determine all matters that may be determined by 
 55.9   an antenuptial contract or settlement under the law of this 
 55.10  state, except that a postnuptial contract or settlement may not 
 55.11  determine the rights of any child of the spouses to child 
 55.12  support from either spouse or rights of child custody or 
 55.13  visitation parenting time. 
 55.14     (c) A postnuptial contract or settlement is valid and 
 55.15  enforceable only if at the time of its execution each spouse is 
 55.16  represented by separate legal counsel. 
 55.17     (d) A postnuptial contract or settlement is valid and 
 55.18  enforceable only if at the time of its execution each of the 
 55.19  spouses entering into the contract or settlement has marital 
 55.20  property titled in that spouse's name, nonmarital property, or a 
 55.21  combination of marital property titled in that spouse's name and 
 55.22  nonmarital property with a total net value exceeding $1,200,000. 
 55.23     (e) A postnuptial contract or settlement is not valid or 
 55.24  enforceable if either party commences an action for a legal 
 55.25  separation or dissolution within two years of the date of its 
 55.26  execution. 
 55.27     (f) Nothing in this section shall impair the validity or 
 55.28  enforceability of a contract, agreement, or waiver which is 
 55.29  entered into after marriage and which is described in chapter 
 55.30  524, article 2, part 2, further, a conveyance permitted by 
 55.31  section 500.19 is not a postnuptial contract or settlement under 
 55.32  this section. 
 55.33     Sec. 45.  Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section 
 55.34  609.26, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 55.35     Subdivision 1.  [PROHIBITED ACTS.] Whoever intentionally 
 55.36  does any of the following acts may be charged with a felony and, 
 56.1   upon conviction, may be sentenced as provided in subdivision 6:  
 56.2      (1) conceals a minor child from the child's parent where 
 56.3   the action manifests an intent substantially to deprive that 
 56.4   parent of parental rights or conceals a minor child from another 
 56.5   person having the right to visitation parenting time or custody 
 56.6   where the action manifests an intent to substantially deprive 
 56.7   that person of rights to visitation parenting time or custody; 
 56.8      (2) takes, obtains, retains, or fails to return a minor 
 56.9   child in violation of a court order which has transferred legal 
 56.10  custody under chapter 260, 260B, or 260C to the commissioner of 
 56.11  human services, a child-placing agency, or the local social 
 56.12  services agency; 
 56.13     (3) takes, obtains, retains, or fails to return a minor 
 56.14  child from or to the parent in violation of a court order, where 
 56.15  the action manifests an intent substantially to deprive that 
 56.16  parent of rights to visitation parenting time or custody; 
 56.17     (4) takes, obtains, retains, or fails to return a minor 
 56.18  child from or to a parent after commencement of an action 
 56.19  relating to child visitation parenting time or custody but prior 
 56.20  to the issuance of an order determining custody or visitation 
 56.21  parenting time rights, where the action manifests an intent 
 56.22  substantially to deprive that parent of parental rights; 
 56.23     (5) retains a child in this state with the knowledge that 
 56.24  the child was removed from another state in violation of any of 
 56.25  the above provisions; 
 56.26     (6) refuses to return a minor child to a parent or lawful 
 56.27  custodian and is at least 18 years old and more than 24 months 
 56.28  older than the child; 
 56.29     (7) causes or contributes to a child being a habitual 
 56.30  truant as defined in section 260C.007, subdivision 19, and is at 
 56.31  least 18 years old and more than 24 months older than the child; 
 56.32     (8) causes or contributes to a child being a runaway as 
 56.33  defined in section 260C.007, subdivision 20, and is at least 18 
 56.34  years old and more than 24 months older than the child; or 
 56.35     (9) is at least 18 years old and resides with a minor under 
 56.36  the age of 16 without the consent of the minor's parent or 
 57.1   lawful custodian. 
 57.2      Sec. 46.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 609.26, 
 57.3   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 57.4      Subd. 2.  [DEFENSES.] It is an affirmative defense if a 
 57.5   person charged under subdivision 1 proves that: 
 57.6      (1) the person reasonably believed the action taken was 
 57.7   necessary to protect the child from physical or sexual assault 
 57.8   or substantial emotional harm; 
 57.9      (2) the person reasonably believed the action taken was 
 57.10  necessary to protect the person taking the action from physical 
 57.11  or sexual assault; 
 57.12     (3) the action taken is consented to by the parent, 
 57.13  stepparent, or legal custodian seeking prosecution, but consent 
 57.14  to custody or specific visitation parenting time is not consent 
 57.15  to the action of failing to return or concealing a minor child; 
 57.16  or 
 57.17     (4) the action taken is otherwise authorized by a court 
 57.18  order issued prior to the violation of subdivision 1.  
 57.19     The defenses provided in this subdivision are in addition 
 57.20  to and do not limit other defenses available under this chapter 
 57.21  or chapter 611. 
 57.22     Sec. 47.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 629.341, 
 57.23  subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 57.24     Subd. 3.  [NOTICE OF RIGHTS.] The peace officer shall tell 
 57.25  the victim whether a shelter or other services are available in 
 57.26  the community and give the victim immediate notice of the legal 
 57.27  rights and remedies available.  The notice must include 
 57.28  furnishing the victim a copy of the following statement: 
 57.29     "IF YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, you can ask 
 57.30  the city or county attorney to file a criminal complaint.  You 
 57.31  also have the right to go to court and file a petition 
 57.32  requesting an order for protection from domestic abuse.  The 
 57.33  order could include the following: 
 57.34     (1) an order restraining the abuser from further acts of 
 57.35  abuse; 
 57.36     (2) an order directing the abuser to leave your household; 
 58.1      (3) an order preventing the abuser from entering your 
 58.2   residence, school, business, or place of employment; 
 58.3      (4) an order awarding you or the other parent custody of or 
 58.4   visitation parenting time with your minor child or children; or 
 58.5      (5) an order directing the abuser to pay support to you and 
 58.6   the minor children if the abuser has a legal obligation to do 
 58.7   so."  
 58.8      The notice must include the resource listing, including 
 58.9   telephone number, for the area battered women's shelter, to be 
 58.10  designated by the department of corrections.  
 58.11     Sec. 48.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 631.52, 
 58.12  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
 58.13     Subdivision 1.  [SUSPENSION OF VISITATION PARENTING TIME 
 58.14  RIGHTS; TRANSFER OF CUSTODY.] (a) If a person who has 
 58.15  court-ordered custody of a child or visitation parenting time 
 58.16  rights is convicted of a crime listed in subdivision 2 and if no 
 58.17  action is pending regarding custody or visitation parenting 
 58.18  time, the sentencing court shall refer the matter to the 
 58.19  appropriate family court for action under this section.  The 
 58.20  family court shall: 
 58.21     (1) grant temporary custody to the noncustodial parent, 
 58.22  unless it finds that another custody arrangement is in the best 
 58.23  interests of the child; or 
 58.24     (2) suspend visitation parenting time rights, unless it 
 58.25  finds that visitation parenting time with the convicted person 
 58.26  is in the best interests of the child. 
 58.27     The family court shall expedite proceedings under this 
 58.28  section.  The defendant has the burden of proving that continued 
 58.29  custody or visitation parenting time with the defendant is in 
 58.30  the best interests of the child.  If the victim of the crime was 
 58.31  a family or household member as defined in section 518B.01, 
 58.32  subdivision 2, the standard of proof is clear and convincing 
 58.33  evidence.  A guardian ad litem must be appointed in any case to 
 58.34  which this section applies.  
 58.35     (b) If a person who has child custody or visitation 
 58.36  parenting time rights was convicted of a crime listed in 
 59.1   subdivision 2 before July 1, 1990, then any interested party may 
 59.2   petition the sentencing court for relief under paragraph (a) if: 
 59.3      (1) the defendant is currently incarcerated, on probation, 
 59.4   or under supervised release for the offense; or 
 59.5      (2) the victim of the crime was a family or household 
 59.6   member as defined in section 518B.01, subdivision 2.  
 59.7      Sec. 49.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
 59.8      Sections 1 to 43 are effective August 1, 2000.