Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 35 (2015GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Snow, V. L.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/20/2015

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• creates an optional parent-time schedule of 145 overnights;
• sets holiday schedules; and
• provides for specific elections by the noncustodial parent.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

PARENT-TIME SCHEDULE AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: V. Lowry Snow
Senate Sponsor: 
Lyle W. Hillyard
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill creates an optional parent-time schedule.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ creates an optional parent-time schedule of 145 overnights;
▸ sets holiday schedules; and
▸ provides for specific elections by the noncustodial parent.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
30-3-34
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 146
ENACTS:
30-3-35.1
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
30-3-34
 is amended to read:
30-3-34.
Best interests -- Rebuttable presumption.
(1) If the parties are unable to agree on a parent-time schedule, the court may establish
a parent-time schedule consistent with the best interests of the child.
(2) The advisory guidelines as provided in Section 
30-3-33
 and the parent-time
schedule as provided in Sections 
30-3-35
 and 
30-3-35.5
 shall be presumed to be in the best
interests of the child 
unless the court determines that Section 
30-3-35.1
 should apply
. The
parent-time schedule shall be considered the minimum parent-time to which the noncustodial
parent and the child shall be entitled unless a parent can establish otherwise by a preponderance
of the evidence that more or less parent-time should be awarded based upon any of the
following criteria:
(a) parent-time would endanger the child's physical health or significantly impair the
child's emotional development;
(b) the distance between the residency of the child and the noncustodial parent;
(c) a substantiated or unfounded allegation of child abuse has been made;
(d) the lack of demonstrated parenting skills without safeguards to ensure the child's
well-being during parent-time;
(e) the financial inability of the noncustodial parent to provide adequate food and
shelter for the child during periods of parent-time;
(f) the preference of the child if the court determines the child to be of sufficient
maturity;
(g) the incarceration of the noncustodial parent in a county jail, secure youth
corrections facility, or an adult corrections facility;
(h) shared interests between the child and the noncustodial parent;
(i) the involvement or lack of involvement of the noncustodial parent in the school,
community, religious, or other related activities of the child;
(j) the availability of the noncustodial parent to care for the child when the custodial
parent is unavailable to do so because of work or other circumstances;
(k) a substantial and chronic pattern of missing, canceling, or denying regularly
scheduled parent-time;
(l) the minimal duration of and lack of significant bonding in the parents' relationship
prior to the conception of the child;
(m) the parent-time schedule of siblings;
(n) the lack of reasonable alternatives to the needs of a nursing child; and
(o) any other criteria the court determines relevant to the best interests of the child.
(3) The court shall enter the reasons underlying its order for parent-time that:
(a) incorporates a parent-time schedule provided in Section 
30-3-35
 or 
30-3-35.5
; or
(b) provides more or less parent-time than a parent-time schedule provided in Section
30-3-35
 or 
30-3-35.5
.
(4) Once the parent-time schedule has been established, the parties may not alter the
schedule except by mutual consent of the parties or a court order.
Section 2. Section 
30-3-35.1
 is enacted to read:
 30-3-35.1.
Optional schedule for parent-time for children 5 to 18 years of age.
(1) The optional parent-time schedule in this section applies to children 5 to 18 years of
age. This schedule is 145 overnights. Any impact on child support shall be consistent with
Subsection 
78B-12-102
(14).
(2) The parents and the court may consider the following increased parent-time
schedule as a minimum when the parties agree or the noncustodial parent can demonstrate the
following:
(a) the noncustodial parent has been actively involved in the child's life;
(b) the parties are able to communicate effectively regarding the child, or the
noncustodial parent has a plan to accomplish effective communications regarding the child;
(c) the noncustodial parent has the ability to facilitate the increased parent-time;
(d) the increased parent-time would be in the best interest of the child; and
(e) any other factor the court considers relevant.
(3) In determining whether a noncustodial parent has been actively involved in the
child's life, the court shall consider:
(a) demonstrated responsibility in caring for the child;
(b) involvement in day care;
(c) presence or volunteer efforts in the child's school and at extracurricular activities;
(d) assistance with the child's homework;
(e) involvement in preparation of meals, bath time, and bedtime for the child;
(f) bonding with the child; and
(g) any other factor the court considers relevant.
(4) In determining whether a noncustodial parent has the ability to facilitate the
increased parent-time, the court shall consider:
(a) the geographic distance between the residences of the parents and the distance
between the parents' residences and the child's school;
(b) the noncustodial parent's ability to assist with after school care;
(c) the health of the child and the noncustodial parent, consistent with Subsection
30-3-10
(4);
(d) flexibility of employment or other schedule of the parent;
(e) ability to provide appropriate playtime with the child;
(f) history and ability of the parent to implement a flexible schedule for the child;
(g) physical facilities of the noncustodial parent's residence; and
(h) any other factor the court considers relevant.
(5) Any elections required to be made in accordance with this section by either parent
concerning parent-time shall be made a part of the decree and made a part of the parent-time
order. Elections may only be changed by mutual agreement, court order, or by the noncustodial
parent in the event of a change in the child's schedule.
(6) If the parties agree or the court enters an order for the optional parent-time schedule
as set forth in this section, a parenting plan in compliance with Sections 
30-1-10.7
 through
30-3-10.10
 shall be filed with any order incorporating the following optional parent-time
schedule:
(a) The noncustodial parent or the court may specify one weekday for parent-time. If
no day is specified, weekday parent-time shall be on Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. until the
following day when delivering the child to school, or until 8 a.m., if there is no school the
following day. Once the election of the weekday is made, it may only be changed in
accordance with Subsection (5). At the election of the noncustodial parent, weekday
parent-time may commence:
(i) from the time the child's school is regularly dismissed; or
(ii) if school is not in session, and the parent is available to be with the child, at
approximately 8 a.m., accommodating the custodial parent's work schedule.
(b) Beginning on the first weekend after the entry of the decree, the noncustodial parent
shall be entitled to alternating weekends beginning on the first weekend after the entry of the
decree from 6 p.m. on Friday until Monday when delivering the child to school, or until 8 a.m.
if there is no school on Monday. At the election of the noncustodial parent, weekend
parent-time may commence:
(i) from the time the child's school is regularly dismissed on Friday; or
(ii) if school is not in session, and the parent is available to be with the child, at
approximately 8 a.m. on Friday, accommodating the custodial parent's work schedule.
(c) The provisions of Subsections 
30-3-35
(2)(f) through (o) shall be incorporated here
and constitute the parent-time schedule with the exception that all instances that require the
noncustodial parent to return the child at any time after 6 p.m. be changed so that the
noncustodial parent is required to return the child to school the next morning or at 8 a.m., if
there is no school.
(7) A stepparent, grandparent, or other responsible adult designated by the noncustodial
parent may pick up the child if the custodial parent is aware of the identity of the individual,
and if the noncustodial parent will be with the child by 7 p.m.
(8) Weekends include any "snow" days, teacher development days, or other days when
school is not scheduled and that are contiguous to the weekend period.
(9) Holidays include any "snow" days, teacher development days after the child begins
the school year, or other days when school is not scheduled, contiguous to the holiday period,
and take precedence over weekend parent-time. Changes may not be made to the regular
rotation of the alternating weekend parent-time schedule.
(a) If a holiday falls on a school day, the noncustodial parent shall be responsible for
the child's attendance at school for that school day.
(b) If a holiday falls on a weekend or on a Friday or Monday and the total holiday
period extends beyond that time so that the child is free from school and the parent is free from
work, the noncustodial parent shall be entitled to this lengthier holiday period.
(c) At the election of the noncustodial parent, parent-time over a scheduled holiday
weekend may begin from the time the child's school is dismissed at the beginning of the
holiday weekend or, if school is not in session, and if the noncustodial parent is available to be
with the child, parent-time over a scheduled holiday weekend may begin at approximately 8
a.m., accommodating the custodial parent's work schedule, unless the court directs the
application of Subsection (6)(a).
(10) Birthdays take precedence over holidays and extended parent-time, except
Mother's Day and Father's Day. Birthdays do not take precedence over uninterrupted
parent-time if the parent exercising uninterrupted time is out of town for the uninterrupted
extended parent-time. At the discretion of the noncustodial parent, other siblings may be taken
along for birthdays.
(11) Notwithstanding Subsection (9)(b), the Halloween holiday may not be extended
beyond the hours designated in Subsection 
30-3-35
(2)(g)(vi).
(12) If there are children aged 5 to 18 and children under the age of five who are the
natural or adopted children of the parties, the parents and the court should consider an upward
deviation for parent-time with all the minor children so that parent-time is uniform based on a
schedule pursuant to this section.