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House passes standards for custody evaluators, parent coordinators
Summary
The House approved first-substitute HB169 to set minimum training and accountability for court‑appointed custody evaluators and parent coordinators, including annual domestic‑violence training, fee transparency and a court‑administered appointment list; the bill passed 58–14 and moves to the Senate.
The Utah House on the third reading approved first‑substitute House Bill 169 to set minimum training standards, billing transparency and appointment procedures for custody evaluators and parent coordinators.
Sponsor Representative Tim Cosgrove told colleagues the measure “asks for 3 basic criteria” including specialized annual training and a court‑administered list of approved evaluators and coordinators. He said the bill requires custody evaluators to have at least three hours of annual training in domestic‑violence issues and that parent coordinators receive three hours of specialized training that includes domestic‑violence and child‑abuse topics.
Cosgrove said the bill also requires courts to provide itemized invoices to parties for fees charged and establishes a list of approved professionals that courts will use for appointments. He told members the changes ‘‘establish some minimal basic training standards, some best practices, some accountability and some checks and balances’’ in a practice that currently has no statewide standard.
During questioning, Representative Allen and others asked whether a custody evaluator could also serve as a parent coordinator in the same case; Cosgrove said the bill prevents an evaluator from serving as the parent coordinator in that same case even if both are appointed. Members also probed the potential overlap of duties and whether the court would clarify roles; the sponsor said courts now make that case‑specific determination.
Representatives pressing about fees and market rates were told that evaluators and coordinators commonly charge between $200 and $400 per hour and that the bill does not impose an explicit cap; Cosgrove said the market currently determines compensation.
The House amended the bill on the floor and then voted to pass the first substitute. The clerk recorded 58 yes votes and 14 no votes. The bill will be forwarded to the Senate for further consideration.
Next steps: HB169 now goes to the Senate for committee assignment and further action.
