81-9-103. Mandatory parenting course for parties in a divorce or parentage action.

476 words·~2 min read·/ut/title-81/chapter-9/81-9-103

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Effective 9/1/2024

(1)The Judicial Council shall approve and implement:

(a)a mandatory parenting course in all judicial districts for married parties in a divorce action determining issues of child custody and parent-time; and

(b)a mandatory parenting course in all judicial districts for unmarried parties in a parentage action determining issues of child custody and parent-time.

(2)The Judicial Council shall adopt rules to implement and administer the mandatory parenting courses described in Subsection

(1).

(3)The mandatory parenting courses shall educate and sensitize parties to the needs of the parties' minor child during and after the court process, including instructing the parties:

(a)about the impact of the court process, and its outcome, on:

(i)the minor child;

(ii)the family relationship; and

(iii)the financial responsibilities of the parties to the minor child; and

(b)that domestic violence has a harmful effect on a minor child and family relationships.

(a)The mandatory parenting course may be provided through live instruction, video instruction, or an online provider.

(b)The online and video options under Subsection (4)(a) must be formatted as interactive presentations that ensure active participation and learning by the party.

(a)The Administrative Office of the Courts shall administer the mandatory parenting courses, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 6a, Utah Procurement Code, through private or public contracts and organize the program in each of Utah's judicial districts.

(b)The contracts shall provide for the recoupment of administrative expenses through the costs charged to individual partiesas described in Subsection (7).

(6)A certificate of completion constitutes evidence to the court of completion of a parenting course under this section by the parties.

(a)Each party shall pay the cost of the parenting course to the independent contractor providing the course at the time and place of the course.

(b)A fee of $8 shall be collected, as part of a parenting course fee paid by each participant, and deposited in the Children's Legal Defense Account, described in Section 51-9-408 .

(c)Each party who is unable to pay the cost of a parenting course may attend the parenting course, without payment, upon a prima facie showing of indigency as evidenced by an affidavit of indigency filed in the court in accordance with Section 78A-2-302 .

(d)The Administrative Office of the Courts shall use appropriations from the Children's Legal Defense Account to reimburse an independent contractor for the costs of a party who is unable to pay for a parenting course under Subsection (7)(c) .

(8)The Administrative Office of the Courts shall:

(a)adopt a program to evaluate the effectiveness of the mandatory parenting courses; and

(b)provide progress reports to the Judiciary Interim Committee if requested.

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter , 2024 General Session