Delaware General Assembly


CHAPTER 531

FORMERLY

SENATE BILL NO. 288

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PARENTING EDUCATION COURSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

AMEND §1507 of Title 13 of the Delaware Code by adding a new subsection "(h)" to read as follows:

"(h) In any case where there are living children of the marriage up to the age of 17, the Court shall order that the parties pay for and participate in a 'Parenting Education Course' unless the Court, upon motion. determines that participation in the course is deemed not necessary. The 'Parenting Education Course' shall be a course which is certified by the Department of Services for Children. Youth and Their Families to meet the goal of educating divorce litigants on the impact on children of the restructuring of families. The course. in order to be certified by the Department of Services for Children. Youth and Their Families, shall consist of at least four (4) hours of instruction and at a minimum provide instruction regarding the following items:

(1) information on the developmental stages of children:

(2) adjustment of children to parental separation;

(3) dispute resolution and conflict management:

(4) guidelines for visitation;

(5) stress reduction in children; and

(6) cooperative parenting.

A litigant who has a demonstrable history of domestic violence shall he ordered to participate in a separate and more intensive course which shall include, at a minimum. the topics required in subsections 1 through 6 and education regarding domestic violence. its prevention and its effect upon children.

Parties do not have to attend the same course.

Approved July 18, 1996