RESOLUTION SUMMARY
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 30

RELATING TO:

Establishing a unified family court

CODE REFERENCE: Art.8, Sec. 16 (new) of the Constitution

ATTORNEY:Dennise Smith

The joint resolution would permit the Legislature to establish a system of unified family courts throughout the state to replace the current family law master system. Their jurisdiction would be determined by the Legislature, as would the number of judges, number of circuits and arrangement of circuits.
Family court judges would be elected and serve a term not to exceed eight years. Judges must reside in the circuit for which they are elected and be admitted to practice law in this state for five years prior to their election.
The supreme court of appeals would supervise the business of family courts and would be permitted to re-assign family court judges for temporary service.
EFFECTIVE DATE:Upon ratification of the voters .
DATE OF PASSAGE:March 13, 1999
ACTION BY GOVERNOR: