25-323.02. Domestic relations committee; membership; duties; pilot programs; report

(Rpld. 1/1/18)

A. The domestic relations committee is established consisting of the following members:

1. Two noncustodial parents who are knowledgeable in domestic relations issues and who are not judges or commissioners. The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall each appoint one of these members.

2. Two custodial parents who are knowledgeable in domestic relations issues and who are not judges or commissioners. The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall each appoint one of these members.

3. Two parents who have joint custody, who are knowledgeable in domestic relations issues and who are not judges or commissioners. The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall each appoint one of these members.

4. Two parents who are knowledgeable in domestic relations issues, who are not judges or commissioners and who are appointed by the governor.

5. Two active or retired judges or commissioners, or both, from the domestic relations department of the superior court who are appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court. One of these members shall be from an urban county and one member shall be from a rural county.

6. One domestic relations attorney who is appointed by the governor.

7. One clerk of the superior court who is appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court.

8. A professional domestic relations mediator who is appointed by the president of the senate.

9. A psychologist who is experienced in performing child custody evaluations and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

10. A domestic relations educator who is experienced in matters relating to parenting or divorce classes and who is appointed by the governor.

11. A representative of a statewide domestic violence coalition who is appointed by the president of the senate.

12. A representative of a conciliation court who is appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court.

13. A marriage and family therapist who is knowledgeable in domestic relations issues and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

14. A representative from a faith-based organization who is knowledgeable in domestic relations issues and who is appointed by the governor.

15. An administrative officer of the supreme court who is appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court or the officer's designee.

16. A member of a law enforcement agency in this state who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

17. A member of an agency that advocates for children who is appointed by the president of the senate.

18. One member of the family law section of the state bar of Arizona who is appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court.

19. Four members of the senate, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party. The president of the senate shall appoint these members and shall designate one of them as the cochairperson.

20. Four members of the house of representatives, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint these members and designate one of them as the cochairperson.

B. The committee shall prepare a statewide plan for an integrated family court with comprehensive subject matter jurisdiction over all matters involving the family and submit this plan to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the chief justice of the supreme court on or before December 31, 2002. Based on this plan or on other formal recommendations from the committee, beginning July 1, 2006, the supreme court shall implement a two year integrated family court pilot program in one county with a population of less than five hundred thousand persons. The supreme court shall submit quarterly reports on the pilot program to the committee. The committee shall include information from these reports in its annual report prepared pursuant to subsection C of this section.

C. The committee shall prepare an annual written report regarding recommended changes to the domestic relations statutes, rules and procedures and other related issues designed to lead to a reform of the state's domestic relations statutes. The committee shall submit this report to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the chief justice of the supreme court on or before December 31 of each year and shall provide a copy of the report to the secretary of state and the director of the Arizona state library, archives and public records. Beginning July 1, 2011, the report shall be submitted electronically.

D. The committee shall develop minimum training standards on domestic violence and child abuse issues for persons conducting an investigation or preparing a report concerning child custodial arrangements pursuant to section 25-406. The committee shall approve the standards on or before December 31, 2004. The committee may modify the standards on or before December 31 of each year.

E. Nonlegislative members of the committee are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2.

25-323.02. Domestic relations committee; membership; duties; pilot programs; report

(Rpld. 1/1/18)

A. The domestic relations committee is established consisting of the following members:

1. Two noncustodial parents who are knowledgeable in domestic relations issues and who are not judges or commissioners. The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall each appoint one of these members.

2. Two custodial parents who are knowledgeable in domestic relations issues and who are not judges or commissioners. The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall each appoint one of these members.

3. Two parents who have joint custody, who are knowledgeable in domestic relations issues and who are not judges or commissioners. The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives shall each appoint one of these members.

4. Two parents who are knowledgeable in domestic relations issues, who are not judges or commissioners and who are appointed by the governor.

5. Two active or retired judges or commissioners, or both, from the domestic relations department of the superior court who are appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court. One of these members shall be from an urban county and one member shall be from a rural county.

6. One domestic relations attorney who is appointed by the governor.

7. One clerk of the superior court who is appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court.

8. A professional domestic relations mediator who is appointed by the president of the senate.

9. A psychologist who is experienced in performing child custody evaluations and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

10. A domestic relations educator who is experienced in matters relating to parenting or divorce classes and who is appointed by the governor.

11. A representative of a statewide domestic violence coalition who is appointed by the president of the senate.

12. A representative of a conciliation court who is appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court.

13. A marriage and family therapist who is knowledgeable in domestic relations issues and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

14. A representative from a faith-based organization who is knowledgeable in domestic relations issues and who is appointed by the governor.

15. An administrative officer of the supreme court who is appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court or the officer's designee.

16. A member of a law enforcement agency in this state who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

17. A member of an agency that advocates for children who is appointed by the president of the senate.

18. One member of the family law section of the state bar of Arizona who is appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court.

19. Four members of the senate, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party. The president of the senate shall appoint these members and shall designate one of them as the cochairperson.

20. Four members of the house of representatives, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party. The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint these members and designate one of them as the cochairperson.

B. The committee shall prepare a statewide plan for an integrated family court with comprehensive subject matter jurisdiction over all matters involving the family and submit this plan to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the chief justice of the supreme court on or before December 31, 2002. Based on this plan or on other formal recommendations from the committee, beginning July 1, 2006, the supreme court shall implement a two year integrated family court pilot program in one county with a population of less than five hundred thousand persons. The supreme court shall submit quarterly reports on the pilot program to the committee. The committee shall include information from these reports in its annual report prepared pursuant to subsection C of this section.

C. The committee shall prepare an annual written report regarding recommended changes to the domestic relations statutes, rules and procedures and other related issues designed to lead to a reform of the state's domestic relations statutes. The committee shall submit this report to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the chief justice of the supreme court on or before December 31 of each year and shall provide a copy of the report to the secretary of state and the director of the Arizona state library, archives and public records. Beginning July 1, 2011, the report shall be submitted electronically.

D. The committee shall develop minimum training standards on domestic violence and child abuse issues for persons conducting an investigation or preparing a report concerning child custodial arrangements pursuant to section 25-406. The committee shall approve the standards on or before December 31, 2004. The committee may modify the standards on or before December 31 of each year.

E. Nonlegislative members of the committee are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2.