PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 323

Treasurer, and the proceeds of the loan equal to the amount of the matching fund shall
be expended for the purposes provided in this Act. Any amount of the loan in excess of
the amount of the matching fund certified by the Board of Public Works shall be canceled
and be of no further effect.

(B) THE GRANTEE MAY PROVIDE THE EVIDENCE OF A MATCHING FUND
AND RECEIVE THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE OF THE BONDS BOTH IN INCREMENTS OF
AT LEAST $250,000 EACH.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1997.

Approved May 8, 1997.

CHAPTER 323
(Senate Bill 63)

AN ACT concerning

Divorce - Educational Seminar on Effects on Children

FOR the purpose of requiring providing that a court may require the parties to certain
divorce actions, prior to the granting of a divorce decree, to attend an educational
seminar that is designed to educate parents about the effects, and minimize the
disruption, of a divorce on the lives of children; requiring the Court of Appeals of
Maryland to adopt, and specifying the content of, rules to implement this Act;
providing for the application of this Act; and generally relating to a requirement
that, under certain circumstances, parties to an action for divorce attend a certain
educational seminar prior to the granting of the divorce.

BY adding to

Article - Family Law

Section 7-103.2

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1991 Replacement Volume and 1996 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, Family structure remains an important predictor of economic stability;

and

WHEREAS, The United States has the highest divorce rate in the world with six
out of ten new marriages ending in divorce; and

WHEREAS, Divorce affects one million children each year resulting in
approximately one half of all children having to experience divorce; and

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