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    Compiled by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library

    Child Custody Dialogue Group

    Active dates:2012-2015
    Function:

    The dialogue group was formed to seek consensus between Republican legislators, Democratic legislators, advocates, and other interested parties on legislation related to family law.

    History:

    After Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed a 2012 family law reform bill, he urged, in his veto letter, "dialogue and, hopefully, collaboration among legislators of both parties and the various stakeholders" on what had been contentious aspects of family law legislation.

    The dialogue group formed after that veto and met between January 2013 and December 2014 to discuss family law issues. As reported by House Public Information in Session Daily, the "aim of the group was greater clarity in existing family law." 

    In 2015, the Legislature passed an omnibus family law bill, informed by the work of the dialogue group (see Laws of Minn. 2015, chap. 30).
    Documents/Articles:
    Carolyn Laine: Family law: Re-focusing on the needs of the child. St. Paul Pioneer Press, 10/15/2015.
    Overview of the new best interest of the child factors. Minnesota Child Custody Dialogue Group, 7/31/2015.
    Once divisive and dreaded, family law reforms pass House. Session Daily, 5/8/2015.
    Bringing fresh thinking to divorce. Star Tribune, 3/29/2015.
    Legislative focus on the family. Ramsey County Law Library Blog, 3/18/2015.
    Big changes proposed in family law. Minnesota Lawyer, 3/12/2015.
    After decade-long family feud, reformers unite for fraying families. Session Daily, 2/11/2015.
    First steps taken on path toward hopeful family law reconciliation. Session Daily, 2/5/2015.
    Minnesota child custody dialogues: Principles and criteria. Center for Efficient Collaboration, 2012.
    Record last updated: 09/20/2024
     

    All information on this group from the Library’s collection of agency notebooks has been digitized. These materials are incorporated into the “documents/articles” section of the record. Please contact a librarian with any questions. The Minnesota Agencies database is a work in progress.

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