ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 961	By:	Standridge of the Senate

			and

		Nelson of the House

[ divorce proceedings - requiring completion of certain educational program - effective date ]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     43 O.S. 2011, Section 107.1, is amended to read as follows:
Section 107.1.  A.  1.  In an action for divorce where there are minor children involved, the court shall not issue a final order thereon for at least ninety (90) days from the date of filing the petition which ninety (90) days may be waived by the court for good cause shown and without objection by either party.
2.  The court may shall require that within the ninety-day period specified by paragraph 1 of this subsection, the parties attend and complete an educational program specified by Section 107.2 of this title.
B.  This section shall not apply to divorces filed for any of the following causes:
1.  Abandonment for one (1) year;
2.  Extreme cruelty;
3.  Habitual drunkenness;
4.  Imprisonment of the other party in a state or federal penal institution under sentence thereto for the commission of a felony at the time the petition is filed;
5.  The procurement of a final divorce decree outside this state by a husband or wife which does not in this state release the other party from the obligations of the marriage;
6.  Insanity for a period of five (5) years, the insane person having been an inmate of a state institution for the insane in the State of Oklahoma, or an inmate of a state institution for the insane in some other state for such period, or an inmate of a private sanitarium, and affected with a type of insanity with a poor prognosis for recovery;
7.  Conviction of any crime defined by the Oklahoma Child Abuse Reporting and Prevention Act committed upon a child of either party to the divorce by either party to the divorce; or
8.  A child of either party has been adjudicated deprived, pursuant to the Oklahoma Children's Code, as a result of the actions of either party to the divorce and the party has not successfully completed the service and treatment plan required by the court.
C.  After a petition has been filed in an action for divorce where there are minor children involved, the court may make any such order concerning property, children, support and expenses of the suit as provided for in Section 110 of this title, to be enforced during the pendency of the action, as may be right and proper.
D.  The court may issue a final order in an action for divorce where minor children are involved before the ninety-day time period set forth in subsection A of this section has expired, if the parties voluntarily participate in marital or family counseling and the court finds reconciliation is unlikely.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2013.
Passed the Senate the 27th day of February, 2013.

	
	Presiding Officer of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2013.

	
	Presiding Officer of the House
	of Representatives