Bill Text: FL S1586 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Florida Marriage Handbook

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2013-05-03 - Died in Children, Families, and Elder Affairs [S1586 Detail]

Download: Florida-2013-S1586-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2013                                    SB 1586
       
       
       
       By Senator Stargel
       
       
       
       
       15-01153-13                                           20131586__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Florida Marriage Handbook;
    3         creating s. 741.0307, F.S.; creating the Marriage
    4         Education Committee; providing for membership and
    5         terms of members; providing for administration within
    6         the Department of Children and Families; providing for
    7         creation of the Florida Marriage Handbook; providing
    8         topics that may be covered in the handbook; providing
    9         for distribution of handbook and encouraging clerks of
   10         court to provide a list of course providers and sites
   11         where marriage and relationship skill-building classes
   12         are available; providing for review and revision of
   13         the handbook; providing an effective date.
   14  
   15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   16  
   17         Section 1. Section 741.0307, Florida Statutes, is created
   18  to read:
   19         741.0307 Marriage Education Committee; Florida Marriage
   20  Handbook.—
   21         (1) There is created the Marriage Education Committee,
   22  which shall consist of six marriage education and family
   23  advocates, two of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, two
   24  of whom shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, and
   25  two of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of
   26  Representatives. The committee shall be appointed by September
   27  1, 2013, and shall be reconstituted once every 10 years to
   28  review and update the contents of the Florida Marriage Handbook.
   29  The members shall be appointed to a 1-year term each or until
   30  completion of the review process. The committee is established
   31  within the Department of Children and Families for
   32  administrative purposes only.
   33         (2) The Marriage Education Committee shall create the
   34  Florida Marriage Handbook. The handbook shall provide resources,
   35  information, and skills to help a couple have a healthy and
   36  successful marriage. The handbook may include, but is not
   37  limited to:
   38         (a) Resources dealing with conflict resolution,
   39  communication skills, family expectations, financial
   40  responsibilities and management, and parenting responsibilities.
   41         (b) Current information from marriage education and family
   42  advocates to assist a couple in forming and maintaining a long
   43  term marital relationship.
   44         (c) Information regarding premarital education, marriage
   45  enrichment education, and resources that are available to help
   46  restore a marriage that is potentially moving toward
   47  dissolution.
   48         (d) Contact information and website links to additional
   49  resources and local professional and community services to
   50  further assist a couple.
   51         (3) The handbook may be available from the clerk of the
   52  circuit court upon application for a marriage license. The clerk
   53  of the circuit court may also make the information in the
   54  handbook available through electronic media and is encouraged to
   55  provide a list of course providers and sites where marriage and
   56  relationship skill-building classes are available.
   57         (4) The Marriage Education Committee shall review the
   58  Florida Marriage Handbook and provide a report to the Governor,
   59  the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
   60  Representatives every 10 years, or as soon thereafter as
   61  practicable, explaining changes made to the handbook and
   62  recommending further updates.
   63         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.