S.B. 332

VETOES

(d)     If a Family Division is established in a circuit court, the Chief Judge of the
Court of Appeals may assign any or all of the following matters to the Family Division:

(1)     dissolution of marriage, including divorce, annulment, and property
distribution;

(2)     child custody and visitation, including proceedings under the Maryland
Uniform Child Custody jurisdiction Act;

(3)     alimony and child support, including proceedings under the Maryland
Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act;

(4)     establishment and termination of the parent-child relationship,
including paternity, adoption, termination of parental rights, and emancipation;

(5)     juvenile causes under Title 3, Subtitle 8 of this article;

(6)     domestic violence proceedings under Title 4, Subtitle 5 of the Family
Law Article;

(7)     criminal nonsupport and desertion, including proceedings under Title
10, Subtitle 2 and Title 13 of the Family Law Article;

(8)     name changes;

(9)     guardianship of minors and disabled persons under Title 13 of the
Estates and Trusts Article;

(10)   involuntary admission to State facilities and emergency evaluations
under Title 10, Subtitle 6 of the Health - General Article; and

(11)   family legal and medical issues; including decisions on the withholding
or withdrawal of life-sustaining medical procedures.

(e)     Unless the administration of justice requires otherwise, a judge assigned to a
Family Division of the circuit court shall devote full time and attention to matters under
the jurisdiction of the Family Court.

(f)      When a Family Division is created in a circuit court, the administrative judge
of the county shall assign the necessary staff and other resources to the Family Division
that the administrative judge finds is appropriate.

(g)     The Court of Appeals may adopt rules to carry out the provisions of this
section.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Chief Judge of the
Court of Appeals, with the assistance of the Court's Standing Committee on Rules of
Practice and Procedure, the Conference of Circuit Court Judges, and representatives of
the Maryland State Bar Association, shall conduct a thorough review of the reports of the
Governor's Task Force on Family Law and the Advisory Council on Family Legal Needs
of Low Income Persons for the purpose of developing an implementation plan for a
Family Division in each circuit court, where the creation of a Family Division is feasible,

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