Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Family Court topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee adopts family‑court changes that define coercive control and guide custody evaluators
Summary
HB 303 (first substitute) would define coercive control, set clearer procedures for court‑ordered child mental‑health treatment, create a custody‑evaluator roster and address fee awards; the committee adopted the substitute and advanced the bill unanimously.
Representative Cutler presented the first substitute of HB 303, describing four primary changes: guidance for court‑ordered child mental‑health therapy, a statutory definition of coercive control, a roster and selection process for custody evaluators, and clarifications around fee awards tied to ability to pay.
Survivors and advocates, including Leah Moses and Jenny Brockbank, testified in support. Moses described patterns of coercive control that do not leave visible bruises but can be deadly; "Coercive control is often mistaken as a high conflict between parents when in reality its reach can be stunningly effective in masking the abuser," she said. Victims advocates and the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition urged the committee to add statutory language they said courts and family‑law practitioners had requested.
The committee adopted the first substitute by voice vote and then voted unanimously to favorably recommend HB 303 to the House floor.
Next steps: The bill will go to the House calendar; sponsors said they welcome further stakeholder input in the implementation phase.
