1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to child support; establishing a child 
  1.3             support mediation pilot program; requiring an 
  1.4             evaluation; appropriating money. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [CHILD SUPPORT MEDIATION PILOT PROGRAM.] 
  1.7      Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] A child support mediation 
  1.8   pilot program is established for the purpose of encouraging 
  1.9   mediation of child support agreements in cases involving 
  1.10  establishment, modification, or enforcement of child support 
  1.11  orders and evaluating the effectiveness of mediation in 
  1.12  increasing compliance with child support orders.  The 
  1.13  commissioner of human services shall administer the program. 
  1.14     Subd. 2.  [CONTRACT FOR PROVISION OF MEDIATION 
  1.15  SERVICES.] The commissioner of human services shall contract 
  1.16  with a private mediation service for purposes of implementing 
  1.17  the child support mediation pilot program.  The private 
  1.18  mediation service must have mediation programs available in the 
  1.19  second, third, and ninth judicial districts.  The program must 
  1.20  be implemented in those judicial districts and in other judicial 
  1.21  districts designated by the commissioner of human services in 
  1.22  which the chief judge of the judicial district requests 
  1.23  mediation services under the pilot program.  
  1.24     Subd. 3.  [MEDIATOR QUALIFICATIONS; PROCEDURES.] The 
  1.25  private mediation service must use mediators certified as 
  2.1   qualified neutrals on the state alternative dispute resolution 
  2.2   roster who have received at least 16 hours of specialized 
  2.3   training in recognizing spousal abuse.  Parties shall pay for 
  2.4   mediation services at a sliding scale rate based on their 
  2.5   ability to pay. 
  2.6      Subd. 4.  [EVALUATION.] The family social sciences 
  2.7   department of the University of Minnesota shall coordinate the 
  2.8   evaluation of the child support mediation pilot program.  The 
  2.9   evaluation must address the effect that mediation has on 
  2.10  compliance with child support orders and the extent that parties 
  2.11  are more satisfied with the outcomes of cases where a mediated 
  2.12  agreement is reached.  The commissioner of human services shall 
  2.13  submit a preliminary evaluation to the legislature by January 
  2.14  15, 2001, in order to determine the desirability of funding the 
  2.15  program for an additional year in the next biennium. 
  2.16     Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  2.17     $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  2.18  commissioner of human services for purposes of section 1.  This 
  2.19  appropriation is available until June 30, 2001.