Relating to participation in conciliation related to a dissolution of marriage

This bill provides that the court, on its own motion, may require the parties to a dissolution of marriage participate in conciliation efforts for a period of days or less following the issuance of an order setting forth the conciliation procedure and the conciliator. Current law requires the court to order the parties to participate in conciliation upon the application of the petitioner in the petition or by the respondent in the responsive pleading to the petition, or within days of appointment of an attorney. The bill also eliminates the specific provisions requiring the court to grant a waiver of mandatory participation in conciliation based on a history of elder abuse or domestic abuse since participation in conciliation is no longer mandatory. Instead, the bill requires that the court, in making its determination whether to require participation in conciliation efforts, shall consider all relevant factors including but not limited to whether a history of abuse or violence exists.