SENATE BILL No. 1350

May 22, 2002, Introduced by Senators HART, MURPHY, MILLER, DE BEAUSSAERT,

YOUNG and SCOTT and referred to the Committee on Families, Mental Health and

Human Services.

A bill to amend 1846 RS 84, entitled

"Of divorce,"

(MCL 552.1 to 552.45) by adding section 15a.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1 SEC. 15A. (1) AFTER A COMPLAINT IS FILED IN AN ACTION FOR

2 DIVORCE OR SEPARATE MAINTENANCE, THE COURT SHALL ORDER THE PAR-

3 TIES TO THE ACTION TO ATTEND AN EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR OR SIMILAR

4 PROGRAM RELATED TO PARENTING RESPONSIBILITIES, THE EFFECTS OF

5 DIVORCE OR SEPARATION ON CHILDREN, OPTIONS FOR CONFLICT RESOLU-

6 TION, AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES. THIS SUBSECTION APPLIES

7 ONLY IF 1 OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING ARE TRUE:

8 (A) THE PARTIES ARE A MINOR CHILD'S PARENTS.

9 (B) EITHER PARTY IS A MINOR CHILD'S PHYSICAL CUSTODIAN AT

10 THE TIME OF FILING THE COMPLAINT FOR DIVORCE OR SEPARATE

11 MAINTENANCE.

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1 (C) THE WIFE IS PREGNANT AND, AFTER THE CHILD IS BORN, THE

2 HUSBAND WOULD BE THE CHILD'S FATHER UNDER THE LAW.

3 (2) AN EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR OR SIMILAR PROGRAM REQUIRED UNDER

4 SUBSECTION (1) SHALL BE CONDUCTED BY A PERSON APPROVED BY THE

5 COURT. A PERSON APPROVED BY THE COURT TO CONDUCT AN EDUCATIONAL

6 SEMINAR OR SIMILAR PROGRAM UNDER SUBSECTION (1) MAY USE A FEE

7 SCHEDULE THAT ACCOMMODATES FAMILIES OF VARIOUS FINANCIAL MEANS,

8 INCLUDING ALLOWING PARTICIPATION BY INDIGENT INDIVIDUALS FOR NO

9 FEE.

10 (3) THE COURT MAY EXCUSE A PARTY TO AN ACTION FOR DIVORCE OR

11 SEPARATE MAINTENANCE FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION FOR

12 GOOD CAUSE.

13 (4) OTHER THAN A STATEMENT OR ADMISSION BY A PARTY ADMITTING

14 CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OR CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT, A STATEMENT OR

15 ADMISSION BY A PARTY IN AN EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR OR SIMILAR PROGRAM

16 REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (1) IS NOT ADMISSIBLE INTO EVIDENCE IN

17 A SUBSEQUENT PROCEEDING.

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