HB 1413

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to premarital preparation; amending s.
3	741.0306, F.S.; providing for the creation and revision of
4	the Florida Marriage Handbook; creating the Marriage
5	Education Committee; providing for membership on the
6	committee; specifying the content for Parts A and B of the
7	handbook; requiring the committee to be reconstituted once
8	every 10 years for the purpose of reviewing and updating
9	the content in the handbook; requiring the committee to
10	submit a report to the Legislature by a specified date;
11	providing an effective date.
12
13	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15	Section 1.  Section 741.0306, Florida Statutes, is amended
16	to read:
17	741.0306  Creation and revisions of the Florida Marriage
18	Handbook a family law handbook.-
19	(1)  The Marriage Education Committee and Based upon their
20	willingness to undertake this project, there shall be created by
21	the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar shall create the
22	Florida Marriage a Handbook. Part A of the handbook shall
23	provide resources, information, and skills to help couples have
24	a healthy and successful marriage. Part B of the handbook shall
25	explain explaining those sections of Florida law pertaining to
26	the rights and responsibilities under Florida law of marital
27	partners to each other and to their children, both during a
28	marriage and upon dissolution. The material in Part B of the
29	handbook or other suitable electronic media shall be reviewed
30	for accuracy by the Family Court Steering Committee of the
31	Florida Supreme Court before prior to publication and
32	distribution.
33	(2)  The Marriage Education Committee shall consist of six
34	marriage education and family advocates, two of whom shall be
35	appointed by the Governor, two of whom shall be appointed by the
36	President of the Senate, and two of whom shall be appointed by
37	the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The committee shall
38	be appointed upon the act becoming a law and shall be
39	reconstituted once every 10 years for the purpose of reviewing
40	and updating the content in Part A of the handbook. The
41	appointed members shall be appointed to a 1-year term or until
42	completion of the review process. The committee shall be placed
43	with the Department of Children and Family Services for
44	administrative purposes only.
45	(3)(2)  The handbook must Such handbooks shall be available
46	from the clerk of the circuit court upon application for a
47	marriage license. The clerks may also make the information in
48	the handbook available on videotape or other electronic media
49	and are encouraged to provide a list of course providers and
50	sites at which marriage and relationship skill-building classes
51	are available.
52	(4)  The Marriage Education Committee shall provide the
53	information contained in Part A of the handbook and shall review
54	and update the information once every 10 years. The content of
55	Part A may include, but need not be limited to:
56	(a)  Resources dealing with conflict resolution,
57	communication skills, family expectations, financial
58	responsibilities and management, and children and parenting
59	responsibilities.
60	(b)  Current information from marriage education and family
61	advocates which is intended to assist couples in forming and
62	maintaining a long-term marital relationship.
63	(c)  Information regarding premarital education, marriage
64	enrichment education, and resources that are available to help
65	restore a marriage that is potentially moving toward
66	dissolution.
67	(d)  Contact information and website links to additional
68	resources and local professional and community services to
69	further assist couples.
70	(5)(3)  The information contained in Part B of the handbook
71	or other electronic media presentation shall be provided by the
72	Family Law Section of The Florida Bar and may be reviewed and
73	updated annually, and may include, but need not be limited to:
74	(a)  Prenuptial agreements; as a contract and as an
75	opportunity to structure financial arrangements and other
76	aspects of the marital relationship.
77	(b)  Shared parental responsibility for children and the
78	determination of a parenting plan, including a time-sharing
79	schedule.
80	(c)  Permanent relocation restrictions.
81	(d)  Child support for minor children; both parents are
82	obligated for support in accordance with the applicable child
83	support guidelines schedule.
84	(e)  Property rights, including equitable distribution,
85	premarital property, and nonmarital property.
86	(f)  Alimony, including temporary, permanent
87	rehabilitative, and lump sum.
88	(g)  Domestic violence and child abuse and neglect,
89	including penalties and other ramifications of false reporting.
90	(h)  Court process for dissolution with or without legal
91	assistance, including who may attend, the recording of
92	proceedings, how to access those records, and the cost of such
93	access.
94	(i)  Parent education course requirements for divorcing
95	parents with children.
96	(j)  Community resources that are available for separating
97	or divorcing persons and their children.
98	(k)  Women's rights specified in the Battered Women's Bill
99	of Rights.
100	(6)(4)  The material contained in the such a handbook may
101	also be provided through videotape or other suitable electronic
102	media. The information contained in Part B of the handbook or
103	other electronic media presentation shall be reviewed and
104	updated annually.
105	(7)(5)  The Florida Marriage existing family law Handbook
106	shall be reviewed and a report provided to the Legislature every
107	10 years by October 1, 2008, or as soon thereafter as
108	practicable, with explanations about changes made to the
109	handbook and recommendations for further updating the handbook.
110	Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.