AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY LEGAL DISPUTES INVOLVING THE CARE AND CUSTODY OF MINOR CHILDREN.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force to study (1) the role of a guardian ad litem and the attorney for a minor child in any action involving the custody, care and upbringing of a child, (2) actions involving the custody, care and upbringing of a child in which one party alleges that he or she has been subjected to parental alienation and the role of a court when considering such allegations, and (3) whether the state should adopt a presumption that shared custody is in the best interest of a minor child in any action involving the custody, care and upbringing of a child. Such study shall include, but not be limited to, an examination of (A) state statutes applicable to an action involving the custody, care and upbringing of a child, and (B) the costs associated with contested divorce actions, including, but not limited to, expert witness fees and attorneys' fees including the fees of guardians ad litem and attorneys for the minor children. Such study may include recommendations for legislation on matters studied by the task force.

(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:

(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be a practicing attorney with significant experience in the handling of child custody matters in state courts;

(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who shall be a practicing attorney with significant experience serving as a guardian ad litem or an attorney for the minor child in child custody matters in state courts;

(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall have personal or professional experience in matters involving allegations of parental alienation made in the context of a proceeding involving the custody, care and upbringing of a minor child;

(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be an attorney whose practice includes civil trial work;

(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be an attorney with significant experience in the handling of child custody matters in state courts;

(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall have personal or professional experience in matters involving allegations of parental alienation made in the context of a proceeding involving the custody, care and upbringing of a minor child; and

(7) The Chief Administrative Judge of the Family Division of the Superior Court, or the Chief Administrative Judge's designee.

(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the General Assembly.

(d) All appointments to the task force shall be made not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority.

(e) The Chief Administrative Judge of the Family Division of the Superior Court shall serve as the chairperson of the task force. The chairperson shall schedule the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than forty-five days after the effective date of this section.

(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary shall serve as administrative staff of the task force.

(g) Not later than February 1, 2014, the task force shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that it submits such report or February 1, 2014, whichever is later.