Connecticut 2019 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB07393 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	LCO No. 6440 1 of 13
4	4
5	5	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7393
6	6	January Session, 2019
7	7	LCO No. 6440
8	8
9	9
10	10	Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
11	11
12	12
13	13	Introduced by:
14	14	(JUD)
15	15
16	16
17	17
18	18
19	19	AN ACT CONCERNING CO URT PROCEEDINGS IN FAMIL Y
20	20	RELATIONS MATTERS.
21	21	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
22	22	Assembly convened:
23	23
24	24	Section 1. Section 46b-87 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
25	25	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 2
26	26	(a) When any person is found in contempt of an order of the 3
27	27	Superior Court entered under [section 46b-60 to 46b-62, inclusive, 46b-4
28	28	81 to 46b-83, inclusive, or 46b-86] the provisions of this chapter, the 5
29	29	court may award to the petitioner a reasonable attorney's fee and the 6
30	30	fees of the officer serving the contempt citation, such sums to be paid 7
31	31	by the person found in contempt, provided if any such person is found 8
32	32	not to be in contempt of such order, the court may award a reasonable 9
33	33	attorney's fee to such person. The costs of commitment of any person 10
34	34	imprisoned for contempt of court by reason of failure to comply with 11
35	35	such an order shall be paid by the state as in criminal cases. 12
36	36	(b) In addition to the award of fees pursuant to subsection (a) of this 13
37	37	section, when any person is found in contempt of a court order 14 Raised Bill No. 7393
38	38
39	39
40	40
41	41	LCO No. 6440 2 of 13
42	42
43	43	concerning an assignment of custody, visitation with a minor child or 15
44	44	parental access, the court may impose additional sanctions against the 16
45	45	person found to be in contempt of the court order that include, but are 17
46	46	not limited to, (1) fines, (2) a reduction or suspension of visitation or 18
47	47	parental access, and (3) a change in the assignment of physical and 19
48	48	legal custody. 20
49	49	Sec. 2. Section 46b-56 of the general statutes is repealed and the 21
50	50	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 22
51	51	(a) In any controversy before the Superior Court as to the custody or 23
52	52	care of minor children, and at any time after the return day of any 24
53	53	complaint under section 46b-45, the court may make or modify any 25
54	54	proper order regarding the custody, care, education, visitation and 26
55	55	support of the children if it has jurisdiction under the provisions of 27
56	56	chapter 815p. Subject to the provisions of section 46b-56a, the court 28
57	57	may assign parental responsibility for raising the child to the parents 29
58	58	jointly, or may award custody to either parent or to a third party, 30
59	59	according to its best judgment upon the facts of the case and subject to 31
60	60	such conditions and limitations as it deems equitable. The court may 32
61	61	also make any order granting the right of visitation of any child to a 33
62	62	third party to the action, including, but not limited to, grandparents. 34
63	63	Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the court shall not 35
64	64	make or modify any order as to the custody of a child involving an 36
65	65	allegation of abuse, unless and until there is an evidentiary offer of 37
66	66	proof and hearing concerning such allegation of abuse. 38
67	67	(b) In making or modifying any order as provided in subsection (a) 39
68	68	of this section, the rights and responsibilities of both parents shall be 40
69	69	considered and the court shall enter orders accordingly that serve the 41
70	70	best interests of the child and provide the child with the active and 42
71	71	consistent involvement of both parents commensurate with their 43
72	72	abilities and interests. Such orders may include, but shall not be 44
73	73	limited to: (1) Approval of a parental responsibility plan agreed to by 45
74	74	the parents pursuant to section 46b-56a; (2) the award of joint parental 46
75	75	responsibility of a minor child to both parents, which shall include (A) 47 Raised Bill No. 7393
76	76
77	77
78	78
79	79	LCO No. 6440 3 of 13
80	80
81	81	provisions for residential arrangements with each parent in accordance 48
82	82	with the needs of the child and the parents, and (B) provisions for 49
83	83	consultation between the parents and for the making of major 50
84	84	decisions regarding the child's health, education and religious 51
85	85	upbringing; (3) the award of sole custody to one parent with 52
86	86	appropriate parenting time for the noncustodial parent where sole 53
87	87	custody is in the best interests of the child; or (4) any other custody 54
88	88	arrangements as the court may determine to be in the best interests of 55
89	89	the child. In making or modifying any order concerning visitation with 56
90	90	a child pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, absent agreement of 57
91	91	the parties, the court shall not order that a parent's visitation with a 58
92	92	child be supervised unless the court enters a finding on the record of 59
93	93	the circumstances necessitating that such visitation be supervised. 60
94	94	(c) In making or modifying any order as provided in subsections (a) 61
95	95	and (b) of this section, the court shall consider the best interests of the 62
96	96	child, and in doing so may consider, but shall not be limited to, one or 63
97	97	more of the following factors: (1) The temperament and developmental 64
98	98	needs of the child; (2) the capacity and the disposition of the parents to 65
99	99	understand and meet the needs of the child; (3) any relevant and 66
100	100	material information obtained from the child, including the informed 67
101	101	preferences of the child; (4) the wishes of the child's parents as to 68
102	102	custody; (5) the past and current interaction and relationship of the 69
103	103	child with each parent, the child's siblings and any other person who 70
104	104	may significantly affect the best interests of the child; [(6) the 71
105	105	willingness and ability of each parent to facilitate and encourage such 72
106	106	continuing parent-child relationship between the child and the other 73
107	107	parent as is appropriate, including compliance with any court orders; 74
108	108	(7)] (6) any manipulation by or coercive behavior of the parents in an 75
109	109	effort to involve the child in the parents' dispute; [(8)] (7) the ability of 76
110	110	each parent to be actively involved in the life of the child; [(9)] (8) the 77
111	111	child's adjustment to his or her home, school and community 78
112	112	environments; [(10)] (9) the length of time that the child has lived in a 79
113	113	stable and satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining 80
114	114	continuity in such environment, provided the court may consider 81 Raised Bill No. 7393
115	115
116	116
117	117
118	118	LCO No. 6440 4 of 13
119	119
120	120	favorably a parent who voluntarily leaves the child's family home 82
121	121	pendente lite in order to alleviate stress in the household; [(11)] (10) the 83
122	122	stability of the child's existing or proposed residences, or both; [(12)] 84
123	123	(11) the mental and physical health of all individuals involved, except 85
124	124	that a disability of a proposed custodial parent or other party, in and of 86
125	125	itself, shall not be determinative of custody unless the proposed 87
126	126	custodial arrangement is not in the best interests of the child; [(13)] (12) 88
127	127	the child's cultural background; [(14)] (13) the effect on the child of the 89
128	128	actions of an abuser, if any domestic violence has occurred between 90
129	129	the parents or between a parent and another individual or the child; 91
130	130	[(15)] (14) whether the child or a sibling of the child has been abused or 92
131	131	neglected, as defined respectively in section 46b-120; and [(16)] (15) 93
132	132	whether the party satisfactorily completed participation in a parenting 94
133	133	education program established pursuant to section 46b-69b. The court 95
134	134	is not required to assign any weight to any of the factors that it 96
135	135	considers, but shall articulate the basis for its decision. 97
136	136	(d) There shall be a rebuttable presumption that a parent is not 98
137	137	acting in the best interests of a child when such parent's conduct 99
138	138	evidences an unwillingness or inability to (1) facilitate and encourage 100
139	139	the other parent's relationship with the child, as is appropriate under 101
140	140	the circumstances, or (2) comply with court orders that seek to 102
141	141	facilitate and encourage such relationship. 103
142	142	[(d)] (e) Upon the issuance of any order assigning custody of the 104
143	143	child to the Commissioner of Children and Families, or not later than 105
144	144	sixty days after the issuance of such order, the court shall make a 106
145	145	determination whether the Department of Children and Families made 107
146	146	reasonable efforts to keep the child with his or her parents prior to the 108
147	147	issuance of such order and, if such efforts were not made, whether 109
148	148	such reasonable efforts were not possible, taking into consideration the 110
149	149	best interests of the child, including the child's health and safety. 111
150	150	[(e)] (f) In determining whether a child is in need of support and, if 112
151	151	in need, the respective abilities of the parents to provide support, the 113
152	152	court shall take into consideration all the factors enumerated in section 114 Raised Bill No. 7393
153	153
154	154
155	155
156	156	LCO No. 6440 5 of 13
157	157
158	158	46b-84. 115
159	159	[(f)] (g) When the court is not sitting, any judge of the court may 116
160	160	make any order in the cause which the court might make under this 117
161	161	section, including orders of injunction, prior to any action in the cause 118
162	162	by the court. 119
163	163	[(g)] (h) A parent not granted custody of a minor child shall not be 120
164	164	denied the right of access to the academic, medical, hospital or other 121
165	165	health records of such minor child, unless otherwise ordered by the 122
166	166	court for good cause shown. 123
167	167	[(h)] (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of 124
168	168	this section, when a motion for modification of custody or visitation is 125
169	169	pending before the court or has been decided by the court and the 126
170	170	investigation ordered by the court pursuant to section 46b-6, as 127
171	171	amended by this act, recommends psychiatric or psychological therapy 128
172	172	for a child, and such therapy would, in the court's opinion, be in the 129
173	173	best interests of the child and aid the child's response to a 130
174	174	modification, the court may order such therapy and reserve judgment 131
175	175	on the motion for modification. 132
176	176	[(i)] (j) As part of a decision concerning custody or visitation, the 133
177	177	court may order either parent or both of the parents and any child of 134
178	178	such parents to participate in counseling and drug or alcohol 135
179	179	screening, provided such participation is in the best interests of the 136
180	180	child. 137
181	181	Sec. 3. Section 46b-54 of the general statutes is repealed and the 138
182	182	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 139
183	183	(a) The court may appoint counsel or a guardian ad litem for any 140
184	184	minor child or children of either or both parties at any time after the 141
185	185	return day of a complaint under section 46b-45, if the court deems it to 142
186	186	be in the best interests of the child or children. The court may appoint 143
187	187	counsel or a guardian ad litem on its own motion, or at the request of 144
188	188	either of the parties or of the legal guardian of any child or at the 145 Raised Bill No. 7393
189	189
190	190
191	191
192	192	LCO No. 6440 6 of 13
193	193
194	194	request of any child who is of sufficient age and capable of making an 146
195	195	intelligent request. 147
196	196	(b) Counsel or a guardian ad litem for the minor child or children 148
197	197	may also be appointed on the motion of the court or on the request of 149
198	198	any person enumerated in subsection (a) of this section in any case 150
199	199	before the court when the court finds that the custody, care, education, 151
200	200	visitation or support of a minor child is in actual controversy, provided 152
201	201	the court may make any order regarding a matter in controversy prior 153
202	202	to the appointment of counsel or a guardian ad litem where it finds 154
203	203	immediate action necessary in the best interests of any child. 155
204	204	(c) In the absence of an agreement of the parties to the appointment 156
205	205	of counsel or a guardian ad litem for a minor child in the parties' 157
206	206	matter and a canvassing by the court concerning the terms of such 158
207	207	agreement, the court shall only appoint such counsel or guardian ad 159
208	208	litem under this section when, in the court's discretion, reasonable 160
209	209	options and efforts to resolve a dispute of the parties concerning the 161
210	210	custody, care, education, visitation or support of a minor child have 162
211	211	been made. 163
212	212	(d) If the court deems the appointment of counsel or a guardian ad 164
213	213	litem for any minor child or children to be in the best interests of the 165
214	214	child or children, such appointment shall be made in accordance with 166
215	215	the provisions of section 46b-12. 167
216	216	(e) Counsel or a guardian ad litem for the minor child or children 168
217	217	shall be heard on all matters pertaining to the interests of any child, 169
218	218	including the custody, care, support, education and visitation of the 170
219	219	child, so long as the court deems such representation to be in the best 171
220	220	interests of the child. To the extent practicable, when hearing from 172
221	221	such counsel or guardian ad litem, the court shall permit such counsel 173
222	222	or guardian ad litem to participate at the beginning of the matter, at 174
223	223	the conclusion of the matter or at such other time the court deems 175
224	224	appropriate so as to minimize legal fees incurred by the parties due to 176
225	225	the participation of such counsel or guardian ad litem in the matter. 177 Raised Bill No. 7393
226	226
227	227
228	228
229	229	LCO No. 6440 7 of 13
230	230
231	231	Such counsel or guardian ad litem may be heard on a matter 178
232	232	pertaining to a medical diagnosis or conclusion concerning a minor 179
233	233	child made by a health care professional treating such child when (1) 180
234	234	such counsel or guardian ad litem is in possession of a medical record 181
235	235	or report of the treating health care professional that indicates or 182
236	236	supports such medical diagnosis or conclusion; or (2) one or more 183
237	237	parties have refused to cooperate in paying for or obtaining a medical 184
238	238	record or report that contains the treating health care professional's 185
239	239	medical diagnosis or conclusion. If the court deems it to be in the best 186
240	240	interests of the minor child, such health care professional shall be 187
241	241	heard on matters pertaining to the interests of any such child, 188
242	242	including the custody, care, support, education and visitation of such 189
243	243	child. 190
244	244	(f) When recommending the entry of any order as provided in 191
245	245	subsections (a) and (b) of section 46b-56, as amended by this act, 192
246	246	counsel or a guardian ad litem for the minor child shall consider the 193
247	247	best interests of the child, and in doing so shall consider, but not be 194
248	248	limited to, one or more of the following factors: (1) The temperament 195
249	249	and developmental needs of the child; (2) the capacity and the 196
250	250	disposition of the parents to understand and meet the needs of the 197
251	251	child; (3) any relevant and material information obtained from the 198
252	252	child, including the informed preferences of the child; (4) the wishes of 199
253	253	the child's parents as to custody; (5) the past and current interaction 200
254	254	and relationship of the child with each parent, the child's siblings and 201
255	255	any other person who may significantly affect the best interests of the 202
256	256	child; [(6) the willingness and ability of each parent to facilitate and 203
257	257	encourage such continuing parent-child relationship between the child 204
258	258	and the other parent as is appropriate, including compliance with any 205
259	259	court orders; (7)] (6) any manipulation by or coercive behavior of the 206
260	260	parents in an effort to involve the child in the parents' dispute; [(8)] (7) 207
261	261	the ability of each parent to be actively involved in the life of the child; 208
262	262	[(9)] (8) the child's adjustment to his or her home, school and 209
263	263	community environments; [(10)] (9) the length of time that the child 210
264	264	has lived in a stable and satisfactory environment and the desirability 211 Raised Bill No. 7393
265	265
266	266
267	267
268	268	LCO No. 6440 8 of 13
269	269
270	270	of maintaining continuity in such environment, provided counsel or a 212
271	271	guardian ad litem for the minor child may consider favorably a parent 213
272	272	who voluntarily leaves the child's family home pendente lite in order 214
273	273	to alleviate stress in the household; [(11)] (10) the stability of the child's 215
274	274	existing or proposed residences, or both; [(12)] (11) the mental and 216
275	275	physical health of all individuals involved, except that a disability of a 217
276	276	proposed custodial parent or other party, in and of itself, shall not be 218
277	277	determinative of custody unless the proposed custodial arrangement is 219
278	278	not in the best interests of the child; [(13)] (12) the child's cultural 220
279	279	background; [(14)] (13) the effect on the child of the actions of an 221
280	280	abuser, if any domestic violence has occurred between the parents or 222
281	281	between a parent and another individual or the child; [(15)] (14) 223
282	282	whether the child or a sibling of the child has been abused or 224
283	283	neglected, as defined respectively in section 46b-120; and [(16)] (15) 225
284	284	whether a party satisfactorily completed participation in a parenting 226
285	285	education program established pursuant to section 46b-69b. Counsel or 227
286	286	a guardian ad litem for the minor child shall not be required to assign 228
287	287	any weight to any of the factors considered. 229
288	288	(g) There shall be a rebuttable presumption that a parent is not 230
289	289	acting in the best interests of a child when such parent's conduct 231
290	290	evidences an unwillingness or inability to (1) facilitate and encourage 232
291	291	the other parent's relationship with the child, as is appropriate under 233
292	292	the circumstances, or (2) comply with court orders that seek to 234
293	293	facilitate and encourage such relationship. 235
294	294	Sec. 4. Section 46b-6 of the general statutes is repealed and the 236
295	295	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 237
296	296	(a) In any pending family relations matter the court [or any judge 238
297	297	may cause] may order an investigation, evaluation or study to be made 239
298	298	with respect to any circumstance of the matter which may be helpful 240
299	299	or material or relevant to a proper disposition of the case. Such 241
300	300	investigation, evaluation or study may include an examination of the 242
301	301	parentage and surroundings of any child, his age, habits and history, 243
302	302	inquiry into the home conditions, habits and character of his parents or 244 Raised Bill No. 7393
303	303
304	304
305	305
306	306	LCO No. 6440 9 of 13
307	307
308	308	guardians and evaluation of his mental or physical condition. In any 245
309	309	action for dissolution of marriage, legal separation or annulment of 246
310	310	marriage such investigation, evaluation or study may include an 247
311	311	examination into the age, habits and history of the parties, the causes 248
312	312	of marital discord and the financial ability of the parties to furnish 249
313	313	support to either spouse or any dependent child. 250
314	314	(b) A report with respect to any investigation, evaluation or study, 251
315	315	undertaken pursuant to subsection (a) of this section by an individual 252
316	316	who is not an employee of the Judicial Department, shall be completed 253
317	317	and filed with the court not later than one hundred twenty days after 254
318	318	the date on which the court ordered such investigation, evaluation or 255
319	319	study, unless the court enters a finding on the record that 256
320	320	extraordinary circumstances warrant an extended period of time for 257
321	321	the completion and filing of the report with respect to such 258
322	322	investigation, evaluation or study. Upon the filing of such report, the 259
323	323	court shall not order that a further investigation, evaluation or study 260
324	324	be undertaken within the twelve-month period following the date on 261
325	325	which the report was filed, unless the court enters a finding on the 262
326	326	record that extraordinary circumstances necessitate that further 263
327	327	investigation, evaluation or study be undertaken. 264
328	328	(c) If the court orders that an investigation, evaluation or study be 265
329	329	undertaken in any controversy involving the custody or care of a 266
330	330	minor child, absent agreement of the parties, the court shall enter a 267
331	331	finding on the record articulating the reasoning for undertaking such 268
332	332	investigation, evaluation or study. 269
333	333	(d) Whenever an investigation, evaluation or study has been 270
334	334	ordered by the court pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the case 271
335	335	shall not be disposed of until a report with respect to such 272
336	336	investigation, evaluation or study has been filed in accordance with 273
337	337	this section, and counsel and the parties have had a reasonable 274
338	338	opportunity to examine such report prior to the date on which the case 275
339	339	is to be heard, unless the court orders that the case be heard before the 276
340	340	report is filed. Unless otherwise permitted to do so by the court, 277 Raised Bill No. 7393
341	341
342	342
343	343
344	344	LCO No. 6440 10 of 13
345	345
346	346	counsel for the parties, including any guardian ad litem, and any self-278
347	347	represented parties shall not initiate contact with the individual who is 279
348	348	undertaking the investigation, evaluation or study until such 280
349	349	individual files a report in accordance with subsection (b) of this 281
350	350	section. 282
351	351	Sec. 5. Section 46b-6a of the general statutes is repealed and the 283
352	352	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 284
353	353	(a) In a family relations matter, as defined in section 46b-1, if a court 285
354	354	orders that a parent undergo treatment from a qualified, licensed 286
355	355	health care provider, the court shall permit the parent to select a 287
356	356	qualified, licensed health care provider to provide such treatment. 288
357	357	(b) In a family relations matter, as defined in section 46b-1, if a court 289
358	358	orders that a child undergo treatment from a qualified, licensed health 290
359	359	care provider, the court shall permit the parent or legal guardian of 291
360	360	such child to select a qualified, licensed health care provider to provide 292
361	361	such treatment. Except in a case where one of the parents has been 293
362	362	awarded sole custody, if both parents do not agree on the selection of a 294
363	363	qualified, licensed health care provider to provide such treatment to a 295
364	364	child, the court shall continue the matter for two weeks to allow the 296
365	365	parents an opportunity to jointly select a qualified, licensed health care 297
366	366	provider. If after the two-week period, the parents have not reached an 298
367	367	agreement on the selection of a qualified, licensed health care provider, 299
368	368	the court shall select such provider after giving due consideration to 300
369	369	the health insurance coverage and financial resources available to such 301
370	370	parents. 302
371	371	(c) (1) In a family relations matter, as defined in section 46b-1, if the 303
372	372	parties agree or if a court orders that a parent or child undergo an 304
373	373	evaluation from a qualified, licensed health care provider, the court 305
374	374	shall first make a finding that the parties have the financial resources 306
375	375	to pay for such evaluation. 307
376	376	(2) If the court has determined that an evaluation can be undertaken 308
377	377	and a qualified, licensed health care provider has been selected to 309 Raised Bill No. 7393
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379	379
380	380
381	381	LCO No. 6440 11 of 13
382	382
383	383	perform the evaluation, the court's order for an evaluation shall 310
384	384	contain the name of each provider who is to undertake the evaluation, 311
385	385	the estimated cost of the evaluation, each party's responsibility for the 312
386	386	cost of the evaluation, the professional credentials of each provider 313
387	387	and the estimated deadline by which such evaluation shall be 314
388	388	completed and submitted to the court. 315
389	389	(3) Not later than thirty days after the date of completion of such 316
390	390	evaluation, the provider shall (A) file a report containing the results of 317
391	391	the evaluation with the clerk of the court, who shall seal such report, 318
392	392	and (B) unless otherwise ordered by the court, provide a copy of such 319
393	393	report to counsel of record, including any guardian ad litem and any 320
394	394	self-represented parties. Unless otherwise permitted by the court, 321
395	395	counsel of record, including any guardian ad litem and any self-322
396	396	represented parties shall not provide or otherwise disclose such report 323
397	397	to any other person, except that counsel to the plaintiff or the 324
398	398	defendant in the action may provide a copy of the report to his or her 325
399	399	client. 326
400	400	Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2019) (a) As used in this section, 327
401	401	"personal identifying information" means: An individual's date of 328
402	402	birth; mother's maiden name; motor vehicle operator's license number; 329
403	403	Social Security number; other government-issued identification 330
404	404	number, except for juris, license, permit or other business-related 331
405	405	identification numbers that are otherwise made available to the public 332
406	406	directly by any government agency or entity; health insurance 333
407	407	identification number; or any financial account number, security code 334
408	408	or personal identification number. "Personal identifying information" 335
409	409	does not include a person's name unless a judicial authority has 336
410	410	entered an order allowing the use of a pseudonym in place of the name 337
411	411	of a party, in which case a person's name is included in the definition 338
412	412	"personal identifying information". 339
413	413	(b) Any person filing a document with the court, whether in an 340
414	414	electronic or paper format, that includes personal identifying 341
415	415	information shall redact any such information contained in the 342 Raised Bill No. 7393
416	416
417	417
418	418
419	419	LCO No. 6440 12 of 13
420	420
421	421	document, unless otherwise required by law or ordered by the court. 343
422	422	The party filing the redacted document shall retain the original, 344
423	423	unredacted document throughout the pendency of the action, any 345
424	424	appeal period and any applicable appellate process. 346
425	425	(c) The person filing the document shall be solely responsible for 347
426	426	omitting or redacting personal identifying information. The court or 348
427	427	the clerk of the court shall not be responsible for reviewing any filed 349
428	428	document to ensure compliance with the provisions of this section. 350
429	429	Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2019) (a) Notwithstanding the 351
430	430	provisions of sections 46b-12, 46b-62, 51-296 and 51-296a of the general 352
431	431	statutes, on and after January 1, 2020, in any family relations matter, as 353
432	432	described in section 46b-1 of the general statutes, in which the court 354
433	433	orders that a guardian ad litem be appointed on behalf of a minor 355
434	434	child, the Division of Public Defender Services shall be solely 356
435	435	responsible for the assignment of the guardian ad litem in such matter. 357
436	436	(b) The Division of Public Defender Services shall: (1) Prescribe a 358
437	437	uniform fee agreement applicable to the assignment of a guardian ad 359
438	438	litem to a family relations matter under this section; and (2) develop 360
439	439	and implement a methodology for calculating, on a sliding-scale basis, 361
440	440	the fees due and owing from a person who is not indigent to the 362
441	441	guardian ad litem assigned to a matter under this section. The 363
442	442	maximum fee payable to a guardian ad litem pursuant to this section 364
443	443	shall not exceed the fee prescribed by the Judicial Branch under section 365
444	444	46b-62 of the general statutes for a couple with a gross combined 366
445	445	income of one hundred thousand dollars. 367
446	446	(c) The Division of Public Defender Services may assess an 368
447	447	administrative fee to be paid by any person who is not indigent and 369
448	448	who is assigned a guardian ad litem under the provisions of this 370
449	449	section. Any administrative fees collected by the Division of Public 371
450	450	Defender Services pursuant to this subsection shall be used by said 372
451	451	division to defray costs incurred in connection with the administration 373
452	452	of this section. 374 Raised Bill No. 7393
453	453
454	454
455	455
456	456	LCO No. 6440 13 of 13
457	457
458	458	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
459	459	sections:
460	460
461	461	Section 1 October 1, 2019 46b-87
462	462	Sec. 2 October 1, 2019 46b-56
463	463	Sec. 3 October 1, 2019 46b-54
464	464	Sec. 4 October 1, 2019 46b-6
465	465	Sec. 5 October 1, 2019 46b-6a
466	466	Sec. 7 July 1, 2019 New section
467	467
468	468	Statement of Purpose:
469	469	To make revisions to various statutes relating to court proceedings that
470	470	concern family relations matters.
471	471	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline,
472	472	except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is
473	473	not underlined.]
474	474