Published: 2015-07-08
Key Benefits:
(a) The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(1) Child and spousal support are serious legal obligations. In addition, children are frequently left in limbo while their parents engage in protracted litigation concerning custody and visitation. The current system for obtaining child and spousal support orders is suffering because the family courts are unduly burdened with heavy case loads and personnel insufficient to meet the needs of increased demands on the courts.
(2) There is a compelling state interest in the development of a child and spousal support system that is cost-effective and accessible to families with middle or low incomes.
(3) There is a compelling state interest in first implementing such a system on a small scale.
(4) There is a compelling state interest in the development of a speedy, conflict-reducing method of resolving custody and visitation disputes.
(b) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this part to provide a means for experimenting with and evaluating procedural innovations with significant potential to improve the California child and spousal support systems, and the system for mediation, evaluation, and litigation of custody and visitation disputes.
(Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 219, Sec. 210. Effective January 1, 1994.)
The Superior Courts of the Counties of Santa Clara and San Mateo may conduct pilot projects pursuant to this part. Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 20010) shall govern the San Mateo County Pilot Project, and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 20030) shall govern the Santa Clara County Pilot Project.
(Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 219, Sec. 210. Effective January 1, 1994.)
The duration of the pilot projects shall be two years.
(Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 219, Sec. 210. Effective January 1, 1994.)