The Michigan House and Senate recently passed several bills designed to strengthen marriage and reduce the negative impact of divorce on children. The legislation is now waiting to be signed by Governor Jennifer Granholm before it can become law. Please contact Gov. Granholm and encourage her to sign the marriage preservation legislation currently pending before her. The Governor has indicated both support and opposition for the legislation so your input is critical. You can contact her by phone at (517) 373-3400. You can also fax a letter to her at (517) 335-6863. Bullet points on the legislation are provided below.

• Encourage couples to complete at least four hours of premarital education by:
• Eliminating the waiting period for a license from 3 days to 0 days if the couple completes a premarital education course or counseling. The three-day waiting period remains for couples who do not complete a course.
• Providing a new tax credit up to $50 to cover the cost of a premarital education program.

• Requires county clerk and those officiating at the marriage to indicate on the marriage application and the marriage license whether or not a couple has had marriage education.
• Is an attempt to compile statistics to determine if the counseling has proven effective and to remind couples and those officiating that premarital education is important.

Eliminates language in current Michigan law that specifies a pastors marriage and family counseling can only be "incidental to his other duties." Eliminates language that prohibits a member of the clergy from providing marriage or family counseling unless employed by a church.

• Requires parents to complete an educational program on the effects of divorce on a child, communication and conflict resolution skills, cooperative parenting techniques, counseling options, substance abuse information, etc.
• Ensures that parents are aware of the consequences of a divorce. Equips parents with skills to provide for the needs of the children after the divorce.

• Encourages the parents to devise a parenting plan to ensure that the needs of the children will continue to be met. May be developed without an attorney.