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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Marriage-related bills proposed for the upcoming legislative session address such issues as applications for a marriage license and child support payments after a union ends.
Sen. Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, proposed updating the state's child-support guidelines, increasing support amounts.
Bell expects strong resistance from parents paying support.
"We're trying to be fair to children, and basically it's an increase, so noncustodial parents are going to not like it," he said.
John Kriesel, who represents a group of noncustodial parents, said he and others will vigorously oppose the legislation.
"Any increased financial incentive for divorces is going to increase divorces," Kriesel said. "Is that really what the Legislature intends?"
Rep. Roz McGee, D-Salt Lake, is sponsoring a bill that would provide a $20 reduction in the marriage license fee for couples who undergo eight hours of premarital counseling on commitment, communication, conflict resolution and financial management.
"This is a matter of personal responsibility," McGee said. "It's not a requirement; it's an incentive."
A bill sponsored by Rep. Julie Fisher, R-Fruit Heights, would allow the state Office of Recovery Services to suspend the driver's license of anyone 60 days behind in child support payments.
Legislative auditors recently recommended driver's license suspension as an effective way to collect $325 million in unpaid support.
"Thirty-six other states do it, so it seemed like such a logical thing to add one more tool to the toolbox to collect child support," Fisher said.
Fisher also is working on legislation that would allow for the suspension of non-payers' hunting and fishing licenses.
The legislation would not require the state to suspend licenses in all cases, Fisher said.
"This is not intended for those who can't pay," she said. "This is intended for those who ORS knows have the resources to pay but refuse to pay. That's really important."
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
