Bill status and text
Article on bill's introduction and initial reactions for and against.
most relevant text --
[unless the parties have undertaken counseling within the previous 12 months that otherwise satisfies the requirements of this section], before the court may issue a decree of dissolution of marriage or legal separation of parties with minor children, the court shall order the parties to complete at least 10 hours of counseling in not less than 8 weeks consisting of at least 3 hours of individual counseling of each party and 4 hours of joint counseling of the parties. Counseling must include but is not limited to conciliation strategies and the effect of divorce on minor children. Counseling must be paid for by the parties, and costs may be allocated between the parties by the court. Counseling must be provided by:
(i) a marriage mentor appointed by a member of the clergy;
(ii) a licensed marriage or family counselor;
(iii) a licensed psychiatrist or a licensed psychologist;
(iv) a licensed professional clinical mental health counselor;
(v) a licensed independent social worker; or
(vi) an official representative of a religious institution.
(b) The requirements of subsection (5)(a) do not apply if there has been a claim of physical abuse of one of the parties by the other. Corroboration is not required for a claim of physical abuse for the purposes of this subsection (5)(b)."
