Section 3 also provides that if either party is indigent, the court may direct the
county to pay the GAL compensation and fees for that party. Under current law, the court
may order the county to pay only if both parties are indigent.
AB244, s. 4 10Section 4. 767.045 (6) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB244,4,1711 767.045 (6) (b) In directing the manner of payment of compensation and fees
12to the guardian ad litem or of reimbursement to the county, the court may order that
13the payment amount be withheld from income and sent to the guardian ad litem or
14that the reimbursement amount be withheld from income and sent to the county
15treasurer, as provided in s. 767.265 (3j) (a). If the court orders income withholding
16and assignment for payment of compensation and fees or for reimbursement, the
17court shall send notice of assignment in the manner provided under s. 767.265 (2r).
Note: Under Section 4, the court may order that the amount of GAL compensation
and fees may be withheld from a party's income and sent to the GAL directly or to the
county treasurer to reimburse the county.
AB244, s. 5 18Section 5. 767.07 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB244,5,3
1767.07 (1) The requirements of this chapter as to residence and marriage
2assessment counseling
attendance at the educational program under s. 767.115 (1)
3(a)
have been complied with;
Note: Section 5 provides that a court must grant a judgment of divorce or legal
separation if, along with other conditions, the requirements of ch. 767, stats., as to
residence and attendance at the parent education program under s. 767.115 (1) (a), stats.,
have been complied with.
AB244, s. 6 4Section 6. 767.085 (2) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB244,5,75 767.085 (2) (c) The clerk of court shall provide, without charge, to each person
6filing a petition instructions for completing and filing a parenting plan under s.
7767.24 (1m).
AB244, s. 7 8Section 7. 767.085 (2m) (a) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
AB244,5,119 767.085 (2m) (a) 3. Shall be accompanied by instructions, provided without
10charge by the clerk of court, for completing and filing a parenting plan under s.
11767.24 (1m).
Note: Sections 6 and 7 require the clerk of court to provide instructions for
completing and filing a parenting plan to each person who files a petition or receives a
summons initiating an action affecting the family.
AB244, s. 8 12Section 8. 767.11 (8) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB244,5,1713 767.11 (8) (c) The initial session under par. (a) shall be a screening and
14evaluation mediation session to determine whether mediation is appropriate and
15whether both parties wish to continue in mediation. At the initial session, the
16mediator shall review with the parties the nonfinancial provisions that must be
17included in the parenting plan under s. 767.24 (1m).
Note: Section 8 requires the mediator to review with the parties at the initial
session of mediation the nonfinancial provisions that must be included in the parenting
plan.
AB244, s. 9 18Section 9. 767.115 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB244,6,2
1767.115 (title) Educational programs and classes program in actions
2affecting the family.
AB244, s. 10 3Section 10. 767.115 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 767.115 (1) (a) (intro.)
4and amended to read:
AB244,6,125 767.115 (1) (a) (intro.) At any time during During the pendency of an action
6affecting the family in which a minor child is involved and in which the court or
7circuit court commissioner determines that it is appropriate and in the best interest
8of the child
, the court or circuit court commissioner, on its own motion, may shall
9order the parties to attend a program, specified by the court or circuit court
10commissioner concerning the effects on a child of a dissolution of the marriage., that
11provides instruction on or training in any of the following that the court or circuit
12court commissioner determines is appropriate in the particular case:
AB244, s. 11 13Section 11. 767.115 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is created to read:
AB244,6,1414 767.115 (1) (a) 1. The effects of divorce on a child.
AB244, s. 12 15Section 12. 767.115 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB244,6,1616 767.115 (1) (a) 2. Working together in the best interest of the child.
AB244, s. 13 17Section 13. 767.115 (1) (a) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
AB244,6,1818 767.115 (1) (a) 3. Parenting or coparenting skills or both.
AB244, s. 14 19Section 14. 767.115 (1) (a) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
AB244,6,2120 767.115 (1) (a) 4. The consequences of stipulating to a custody and placement
21arrangement and of resolution of disputes by the court.
AB244, s. 15 22Section 15. 767.115 (1) (a) 5. of the statutes is created to read:
AB244,6,2323 767.115 (1) (a) 5. Available mediation under s. 767.11.
AB244, s. 16 24Section 16. 767.115 (1) (a) 6. of the statutes is created to read:
AB244,6,2525 767.115 (1) (a) 6. The provisions of s. 767.24.
AB244, s. 17
1Section 17. 767.115 (1) (a) 7. of the statutes is created to read:
AB244,7,32 767.115 (1) (a) 7. The provisions of s. 767.045 and the duties and
3responsibilities of a guardian ad litem in representing the best interest of a child.
AB244, s. 18 4Section 18. 767.115 (1) (a) 8. of the statutes is created to read:
AB244,7,65 767.115 (1) (a) 8. The potential costs of an action affecting the family, including
6all of the following:
AB244,7,77 a. The cost of representation by an attorney.
AB244,7,88 b. Mediation fees.
AB244,7,99 c. Legal custody and physical placement study fees under s. 814.615.
AB244,7,1110 d. Guardian ad litem fees and expenses and fees and expenses ordered under
11s. 767.045 (6) of any expert witness used to assist the guardian ad litem.
AB244,7,1312 e. The costs of mental or physical examinations of a party under s. 804.10, if
13applicable, including the costs for preparing a written report or court testimony.
AB244,7,1414 f. Any other costs, fees, or expenses that may be incurred during litigation.
AB244, s. 19 15Section 19. 767.115 (1) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
Note: Under current law, at any time when an action affecting the family in which
a minor child is involved is pending, and in which the court or CCC determines that it is
appropriate and in the best interests of the child, the court or CCC may order the parties
to attend a program concerning the effects on a child of a dissolution of the marriage.
Sections 9 to 19 require the court or CCC to order the parties to an action affecting
the family in which a minor child is involved to attend a program that provides instruction
on or training in any of the following that the court or CCC determines is appropriate in
the particular case:
a. The effects of divorce on a child.
b. Working together in the best interest of the child.
c. Parenting or coparenting skills, or both.
d. The consequences of stipulating to a custody and placement arrangement and
of resolution of disputes by the court.
e. Available mediation under s. 767.11, stats.
f. Current law relating to child custody and physical placement.
g. Current law relating to GALs and the duties and responsibilities of a GAL in
representing the best interest of a child.
h. The potential costs of an action affecting the family, including: representation
by an attorney; mediation fees; custody and physical placement study fees; fees and
expenses of a GAL and any expert witness ordered to assist the GAL; the costs of mental

or physical examinations of a party; and any other costs, fees, or expenses that may be
incurred during litigation.
AB244, s. 20 1Section 20. 767.115 (1) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB244,8,102 767.115 (1) (bm) In the discretion of the court or circuit court commissioner, the
3parties may not be required to attend a program under par. (a) or may be required
4to attend separate sessions of the program if the court or circuit court commissioner
5finds that attending such a program or attending such a program with the other
6party would cause undue hardship or endanger the health or safety of one of the
7parties. In making a determination of whether attending a program under par. (a)
8or attending the program with the other party would endanger the health or safety
9of one of the parties, the court or circuit court commissioner shall consider the
10following:
AB244,8,1211 1. Evidence that a party engaged in abuse, as defined in s. 813.122 (1) (a), of
12the child, as defined in s. 48.02 (2).
AB244,8,1413 2. Evidence of interspousal battery, as described under s. 940.19 or 940.20 (1m),
14or domestic abuse, as defined in s. 813.12 (1) (am).
AB244,8,1615 3. Evidence that either party has a significant problem with alcohol or other
16drug abuse.
AB244,8,1917 4. Any other evidence indicating that a party's health or safety will be
18endangered by attending a program or by attending the program with the other
19party.
Note: Under Section 20, the parties to an action affecting the family may not be
required to attend the parent education program or may be required to attend separate
sessions of the program if the court or CCC finds that attending such a program or
attending such a program with the other party would cause undue hardship or endanger
the health or safety of one of the parties. In making this determination, the court or CCC
must consider evidence that a party engaged in child abuse; evidence of spousal battery
or domestic abuse; evidence that either party has a significant problem with alcohol or
other drug abuse; or any other evidence that a party's health or safety will be endangered
by attending a program or by attending the program with the other party.
AB244, s. 21
1Section 21. 767.115 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB244,9,82 767.115 (1m) A program under sub. (1) (a) shall be educational rather than
3therapeutic in nature and may not exceed a total of shall include at least 4 hours in
4length
of instruction or training. The parties shall be responsible for the cost, if any,
5of attendance at the program. The court or circuit court commissioner may
6specifically assign responsibility for payment of any cost. No facts or information
7obtained in the course of the program, and no report resulting from the program, is
8admissible in any action or proceeding.
Note: Under current law, the parent education program may not exceed four hours
in length. Section 21 amends current law to provide that the program must include at
least four hours of instruction or training.
AB244, s. 22 9Section 22. 767.115 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 767.115 (2) (a) and
10amended to read:
AB244,9,1511 767.115 (2) (a) Notwithstanding s. 767.07 Except as provided in par. (b), the
12court or circuit court commissioner may require the parties to an action affecting the
13family in which a minor child is involved
to attend a program under sub. (1) (a) as
14a condition to the granting of a final judgment or order in the action affecting the
15family that is pending before the court or circuit court commissioner.
AB244, s. 23 16Section 23. 767.115 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB244,9,2117 767.115 (2) (b) If the parties were not ordered to attend a program under sub.
18(1) (a) because the court or circuit court commissioner found under sub. (1) (bm) that
19attending would cause undue hardship or endanger the health or safety of one of the
20parties, the court or circuit court commissioner may not condition the granting of the
21final judgment or order in the action affecting the family on attending a program.
Note: Under Sections 22 and 23, a court or CCC may require the parties to an
action affecting the family in which a minor child is involved to attend a parent education
program as a condition to the granting of a final judgment unless the parties were not
ordered to attend a parent education program.
AB244, s. 24
1Section 24. 767.115 (2) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB244,10,42 767.115 (2) (c) The court or circuit court commissioner may refuse to hear a
3custody or physical placement motion of a party who refuses to attend a program
4ordered under sub. (1) (a).
Note: Section 24 provides that a court or CCC may refuse to hear a custody or
physical placement motion of a party who is ordered and refuses to attend a parent
education program.
AB244, s. 25 5Section 25. 767.115 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB244,10,86 767.115 (3) A party who fails to attend a program ordered under sub. (1) (a) or
7to pay costs specifically ordered under sub. (1m) may be proceeded against under ch.
8785 for contempt of court.
Note: Section 25 conforms a cross-reference with a change made in the bill.
AB244, s. 26 9Section 26. 767.115 (4) of the statutes is repealed.
Note: Section 26 repeals a provision of current law that permits a court or CCC
to order parties to a pending divorce or paternity action to attend a class that addresses
such issues as child development, family dynamics, how parental separation affects a
child's development, and what parents can do to make raising a child in a separated
situation less stressful for the child, because parties to these actions will be required to
attend such a class under Sections 9 to 19.
AB244, s. 27 10Section 27. 767.24 (1m) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB244,11,211 767.24 (1m) Parenting plan. (intro.) In an action for annulment, divorce, or
12legal separation, an action to determine paternity, or an action under s. 767.02 (1)
13(e) or 767.62 (3) in which legal custody or physical placement is contested, a party
14seeking sole or joint legal custody or periods of physical placement shall file a
15parenting plan with the court before any pretrial conference within 60 days after the
16court waives the requirement to attend mediation or within 60 days after the
17mediator notifies the court under s. 767.11 (12) (b) that the parties have not reached
18an agreement, unless the court orders otherwise
. Except for cause shown, a party
19required to file a parenting plan under this subsection who does not timely file a

1parenting plan waives the right to object to the other party's parenting plan. A
2parenting plan shall provide information about the following questions:
Note: Section 27 requires parties to file a parenting plan within 60 days after the
court waives the requirement to attend mediation or within 60 days after the mediator
notifies the court that the parties have not reached an agreement, unless the court orders
otherwise. Under current law, the parenting plan must be filed before any pretrial
conference.
AB244, s. 28 3Section 28. 767.265 (3j) of the statutes is created to read:
AB244,11,94 767.265 (3j) (a) A person who receives notice of assignment under s. 767.045
5(6) (b) shall withhold the amount specified in the notice from any money that that
6person pays to the payer later than one week after receipt of notice of assignment.
7Within 5 days after the day on which the person pays money to the payer, the person
8shall send the amount withheld to the guardian ad litem or county treasurer
9specified in the notice.
AB244,11,1410 (b) A person who receives notice of assignment under s. 814.615 (3) shall
11withhold the amount specified in the notice from any money that that person pays
12to the payer later than one week after receipt of notice of assignment. Within 5 days
13after the day on which the person pays money to the payer, the person shall send the
14amount withheld to the county treasurer specified in the notice.
AB244,11,1515 (c) Section 241.09 does not apply to assignments under this subsection.
Note: Section 28 provides that an employer or other person who receives notice
of an income-withholding order as provided under Sections 4 and 34 must withhold the
amount specified from any money paid to the person subject to the order later than one
week after receiving the notice. The money must then be sent to the GAL or county
treasurer within five days.
AB244, s. 29 16Section 29. 767.265 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB244,11,1917 767.265 (4) A withholding assignment or order under this section or s. 767.045
18(6) (b),
767.23 (1) (L) or, 767.25 (4m) (c), or 814.615 (3) has priority over any other
19assignment, garnishment, or similar legal process under state law.

Note: Section 29 provides that, along with income withholding to pay child
support, an income-withholding order under Section 4 or 34 has priority over any other
assignment, garnishment, or similar legal process.
AB244, s. 30 1Section 30. 767.265 (6) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 767.265 (6) (a) 1.
AB244, s. 31 2Section 31. 767.265 (6) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB244,12,93 767.265 (6) (a) 2. Except as provided in sub. (3m), if after receipt of notice of
4assignment the person from whom the payer receives money fails to withhold the
5money or send the money to the guardian ad litem or county treasurer as provided
6in sub. (3j), the person may be proceeded against under the principal action under
7ch. 785 for contempt of court or may be proceeded against under ch. 778 and be
8required to forfeit not less than $50 nor more than an amount, if the amount exceeds
9$50, that is equal to 1% of the amount not withheld or sent.
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