COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.: 4291-01
Bill No.: HB 1451
Subject: Children and Minors; Domestic Relations; Courts
Type: Original
Date: April 3, 2006
FISCAL SUMMARY
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2007 | FY 2008 | FY 2009 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on General Revenue Fund |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2007 | FY 2008 | FY 2009 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on Other State Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
Numbers within parentheses: ( ) indicate costs or losses.
This fiscal note contains 3 pages.
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2007 | FY 2008 | FY 2009 |
| Total Estimated
Net Effect on All Federal Funds |
$0 | $0 | $0 |
| FUND AFFECTED | FY 2007 | FY 2008 | FY 2009 |
| Local Government | $0 | $0 | $0 |
ASSUMPTION
Officials from the Office of State Courts Administrator assume the proposed legislation would have no fiscal impact on the courts.
Officials from the Department of Social Services - Children's Division assume the proposed legislation would have no fiscal impact on their agency, assuming the juvenile court would not order the division to purchase additional technologies.
| FISCAL IMPACT - State Government | FY 2007
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2008 | FY 2009 |
| $0 | $0 | $0 |
| FISCAL IMPACT - Local Government | FY 2007
(10 Mo.) |
FY 2008 | FY 2009 |
| $0 | $0 | $0 |
FISCAL IMPACT - Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.
DESCRIPTION
The proposed legislation requires the parties in a dissolution of marriage proceeding to submit in their proposed parenting plan a specific written schedule for virtual visitation. Each parent, unless otherwise denied by court order, must permit and encourage the other parent to have reasonable and uncensored communications via virtual visitation between a non-custodial parent and a child and between a child and the custodial parent when the child is staying with the non-custodial parent. Virtual visitation is designed to supplement and not replace in-person visitation. Virtual visitation is defined as parenting time facilitated by tools such as telephone, e-mail, instant messaging, video conferencing, and any other wired or wireless technologies over the Internet or other communication media.
If the parties cannot agree on whether virtual visitation equipment is reasonably available, the court will make the decision based on the best interest of the child, each parent's ability to handle any additional expenses of virtual visitation, and any other factors the court considers relevant.
This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not require additional capital improvements or rental space.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Office of State Courts Administrator
Department of Social Services
Mickey Wilson, CPA
Director
April 3, 2006