1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to marriage; modifying grounds for marriage dissolution; requiring 
1.3 	two-year waiting period in certain instances; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, 
1.4 	section 518.06, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 518.06, is amended by adding a 
1.7 	subdivision to read:
1.8 		Subd. 4.Contested dissolutions involving minor children. (a) If a petition for 
1.9 	dissolution of a marriage is disputed by one of the parties and there is a minor child in the 
1.10 	home, the court may only grant a dissolution:
1.11 	(1) following a two-year waiting period; or
1.12 	(2) upon the court finding one or more of the following grounds:
1.13 	(i) adultery;
1.14 	(ii) domestic abuse as defined in section 518B.01, subdivision 2;
1.15 	(iii) a refusal to seek or comply with treatment or aftercare for chemical dependency 
1.16 	when indicated by an evaluation; or
1.17 	(iv) desertion of one of the parties for a period of two years or more.
1.18 	(b) Upon finding that a waiting period is required by this subdivision, the court 
1.19 	shall suspend all further proceedings on the matter until the waiting period has been 
1.20 	completed, except that the court may make temporary orders as provided in section 
1.21 	518.131. The waiting period commences on the date of the respondent's filing of an 
1.22 	answer or counterpetition to the petition.
2.1 	(c) The court may grant a petition for dissolution immediately if, during a waiting 
2.2 	period otherwise required by this subdivision, the court finds that one of the grounds for 
2.3 	immediate dissolution listed in paragraph (a), clause (2), has occurred.

2.4 	Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.5 	Section 1 is effective August 1, 2012, and applies to petitions for dissolution of 
2.6 	marriage filed on or after that date.