S-3696.1

SENATE BILL 5868

BySenators Fortunato and Torres

AN ACT Relating to providing information on reporting domestic violence and other unlawful conduct in family court proceedings; amending RCW 2.56.180; and adding a new section to chapter 26.12 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 2.56.180 and 2007 c 496 s 202 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The administrative office of the courts shall create a handbook explaining the sections of Washington law pertaining to the rights and responsibilities of marital partners to each other and to any children during a marriage and a dissolution of marriage. The handbook may also be provided in videotape or other electronic form.

(2) The handbook created under subsection (1) of this section shall be provided by the county auditor when an individual applies for a marriage license under RCW 26.04.140.

(3) The handbook created under subsection (1) of this section shall also be provided to the petitioner when he or she files a petition for dissolution, and to the respondent, unless the respondent did not file a response, notice of appearance, or any other paper in the case or did not appear in court. The administrative office of the courts shall on an annual basis reimburse the counties for each copy of the handbook that is distributed directly to family law parties under this section, provided that the county submits documentation of the number of handbooks distributed on an annual basis.

(4) The information contained in the handbook created under subsection (1) of this section shall be reviewed and updated annually. The handbook must contain the following information:

(a) Information on prenuptial agreements as contracts and as a means of structuring financial arrangements and other aspects of the marital relationship;

(b) Information on shared parental responsibility for children, including establishing a residential schedule for the child in the event of the dissolution of the marriage;

(c) Information on notice requirements and standards for parental relocation;

(d) Information on child support for minor children;

(e) Information on property rights, including equitable distribution of assets and premarital and postmarital property rights;

(f) Information on spousal maintenance;

(g) Information on domestic violence, child abuse, and neglect, including penalties;

(h) Information on reporting domestic violence and other unlawful conduct to law enforcement;

(i) Information on the court process for dissolution;

(((i)))(j) Information on the effects of dissolution on children;

(((j)))(k) Information on community resources that are available to separating or divorcing persons and their children.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 26.12 RCW to read as follows:

In any proceeding where a family court has exercised jurisdiction under RCW 26.12.010, a family court must provide the information described under RCW 2.56.180(4)(h) to a party that alleges domestic violence or other unlawful conduct. The information must be printed on colored paper that is distinguishable from any other written document provided to the party alleging domestic violence or other unlawful conduct during a proceeding.

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