H-3254.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 2297
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1994 Regular Session
By Representatives Padden, Chandler, Horn and Foreman
Read first time 01/12/94. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.
AN ACT Relating to parenting seminars; and adding new sections to chapter 26.12 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 26.12 RCW to read as follows:
(1) Family law judges and court commissioners shall order parents who have minor children and who have filed for divorce to attend parenting seminars concerning the short-term and long-term impacts of divorce upon children. The parents must satisfactorily complete the parenting seminar before the court may grant the divorce.
(2) Judges and court commissioners shall also order parents who have minor children and who have obtained a divorce and are seeking a modification of the parenting plan or custody or visitation order to attend parenting seminars as provided in subsection (1) of this section, if the parents did not attend a parenting seminar when the parents were divorced. Judges and court commissioners may require the parents to attend the parenting seminar prior to obtaining a modification.
(3) Judges and court commissioners shall also order unmarried parents of minor children to attend parenting seminars when the parents are involved in a paternity action or other action in which the court establishes or modifies the respective parents rights of custody or visitation or establishes a parenting plan.
(4) The parents shall pay for the cost of the parenting seminar unless the county legislative authority authorizes funding for parenting seminars or the parents are able to obtain funding through alternative sources or fee waivers.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 26.12 RCW to read as follows:
The supreme court shall adopt rules to implement section 1 of this act.
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