MN HF2318

Establishes the Family Law Mediation Task Force to advise the legislature on conflict's impact on children during marital dissolution and recommend conflict resolution strategies.

Task force comprises 4 legislators (2 House, 2 Senate), 8 representatives from legal and mediation professional organizations, 1 judge/court referee, and 1 representative from Minnesota Legal Services Coalition.

Commissioner of Bureau of Mediation Services convenes the task force, provides staff and administrative support, and task force meets monthly under an elected chair.

Task force must develop a report analyzing research on dissolution's effect on children, recommend conflict resolution alternatives to court proceedings, and propose a model mediation program for district courts statewide.

Report and policy recommendations must be submitted to legislative committees with jurisdiction over family law by January 15, 2020, after which the task force expires.