WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                         S.B. 332

SECTION 1. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That it is the intent of the
General Assembly that judges appointed to the Family Court shall:

(1) Have the temperament necessary to deal properly with the cases and families
likely to come before the court; and

(2) Have special experience or training in family law or juvenile causes and the
problems of families and children likely to come before the court.

SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That it is the intent of the
General Assembly that the Court of Appeals Standing Committee on Rules of Practice
and Procedure review the Maryland Rules and recommend any changes necessary to
implement the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That subject to the approval of
the Director of the Department of Legislative Reference, the publishers of the Annotated
Code of Maryland shall propose the correction of cross references that are rendered
incorrect by this Act.

SECTION 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the passage of this Act is
contingent on the passage of Chapter ___ (S.B. ___ /H.B. ____)(31r0685) of the Acts of

the General Assembly of 1993, a Constitutional Amendment, and its ratification by the
voters of the State.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:

(a)     It is the intent of the General Assembly that:

(1)     family, domestic, and juvenile matters be treated in the judicial system as
equally importantly as other matters, both civil and criminal;

(2)     in order to better enable the courts to handle family, domestic, and
juvenile matters in a more coordinated, efficient, and responsive manner, there shall be
established a Family Division in each circuit court where the creation of a Family Division
is feasible;

(3)     the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals and the circuit courts shall take
the necessary steps to create a Family Division in each circuit court, where the creation of
a Family Division is feasible; and

(4)     the judges of the Family Division have special experience or training in
family law or juvenile causes and an understanding of the problems of families and
children likely to come before the Family Division.

(b)     (1) The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals may establish a Family
Division in each circuit court.

(2) The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals shall consult with the
administrative judge of the county before establishing a Family Division in a circuit court.

(c)     A judge assigned to the Family Division shall have the temperament necessary
to deal properly with the cases and families likely to come before the Family Division.

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