Family and Marriage Preservation

Legislative Initiatives

2006

Healthy Marriages

I. Premarital Education (HB 5699 Rep. Jerry Kooiman)

· Creates guidelines for premarital education programs eligible for incentives.

· Eliminates the 3 day waiting period for a license if the couple chooses to participate in premarital education.

II. Premarital Education Tax Credit (HB 5700 Rep. John Stahl)

· New tax credit of up to $50 to cover the cost of premarital counseling or a marriage enrichment or preservation program that has as its primary function the strengthening or preservation of marriage.

Note: This bill did not pass the House with the other bills on June 29, 2006.

III. Pre-marital Education Statistics (HB 5703 Rep. Lisa Wojno)

· Would require that each county clerk create a "check off" area on the marriage application and the marriage license which allows the couple at the time of application or at the time when they sign the marriage license to convey whether or not they have had marriage counseling.

· Is an attempt to compile statistics down the road to determine if the counseling has proven effective.

· Defines marriage counseling to be at least four hours administered by a counselor, psychologist, clergy member or qualified social worker.

IV. Pastor Counseling (HB 5702 Rep. John Gleason)

· Allows a pastor, cleric, priest, etc. to continue to legally offer marriage counseling after they have retired from their church without having to apply for a counseling license from the state.

Protecting Children

II. Divorce Effects Education Program (HB 5698 Rep. Barb Vander Veen)

· Minimizes the impact of divorce on children by requiring parents to complete an educational program on marriage, divorce and parenting before the divorce is granted.

· Ensures that parents are aware of the consequences of a divorce. Equip parents with skills to provide for the needs of the children after the divorce.

III. Parenting Plans (HB 5701 Rep. John Moolenar)

· Requires a parenting plan to be in place before a divorce is granted.

· The parents would work together under the supervision of the court to devise a parenting plan to ensure that the needs of the children will continue to be met in the best interest of each child.

· The parenting plan would detail custody arrangements and authority for making decisions regarding the children.