General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 6387
January Session, 2013		LCO No. 2869
		*02869_______JUD*
Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
Introduced by:
(JUD)

AN ACT CONCERNING COURT OPERATIONS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 46b-1 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

Matters within the jurisdiction of the Superior Court deemed to be family relations matters shall be matters affecting or involving: (1) Dissolution of marriage, contested and uncontested, except dissolution upon conviction of crime as provided in section 46b-47; (2) legal separation; (3) annulment of marriage; (4) alimony, support, custody and change of name incident to dissolution of marriage, legal separation and annulment; (5) actions brought under section 46b-15, as amended by this act; (6) complaints for change of name; (7) civil support obligations; (8) habeas corpus and other proceedings to determine the custody and visitation of children; (9) habeas corpus brought by or on behalf of any mentally ill person except a person charged with a criminal offense; (10) appointment of a commission to inquire whether a person is wrongfully confined as provided by section 17a-523; (11) juvenile matters as provided in section 46b-121; (12) all rights and remedies provided for in chapter 815j; (13) the establishing of paternity; (14) appeals from probate concerning: (A) Adoption or termination of parental rights; (B) appointment and removal of guardians; (C) custody of a minor child; (D) appointment and removal of conservators; (E) orders for custody of any child; and (F) orders of commitment of persons to public and private institutions and to other appropriate facilities as provided by statute; (15) actions related to prenuptial and separation agreements and to matrimonial and civil union decrees of a foreign jurisdiction; (16) dissolution, legal separation or annulment of a civil union performed in a foreign jurisdiction; (17) custody [proceeding] proceedings brought under the provisions of chapter 815p; and [(17)] (18) all such other matters within the jurisdiction of the Superior Court concerning children or family relations as may be determined by the judges of said court.

Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 46b-15 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(b) The application form shall allow the applicant, at the applicant's option, to indicate whether the respondent holds a permit to carry a pistol or revolver or possesses one or more firearms. The application shall be accompanied by an affidavit made under oath which includes a brief statement of the conditions from which relief is sought. Upon receipt of the application the court shall order that a hearing on the application be held not later than fourteen days from the date of the order. The court, in its discretion, may make such orders as it deems appropriate for the protection of the applicant and such dependent children or other persons as the court sees fit. In making such orders, the court, in its discretion, may consider relevant court records if the records are available to the public from a clerk of the Superior Court or on the Judicial Branch's Internet web site. Such orders may include temporary child custody or visitation rights, and such relief may include, but is not limited to, an order enjoining the respondent from (1) imposing any restraint upon the person or liberty of the applicant; (2) threatening, harassing, assaulting, molesting, sexually assaulting or attacking the applicant; or (3) entering the family dwelling or the dwelling of the applicant. Such order may include provisions necessary to protect any animal owned or kept by the applicant including, but not limited to, an order enjoining the respondent from injuring or threatening to injure such animal. If an applicant alleges an immediate and present physical danger to the applicant, the court may issue an ex parte order granting such relief as it deems appropriate. If a postponement of a hearing on the application is requested by either party and granted, the ex parte order shall not be continued except upon agreement of the parties or by order of the court for good cause shown. If an ex parte order is granted and the court is closed on the scheduled hearing date, the hearing shall be held on the next day the court is open and such ex parte order shall remain in effect until the date of such hearing.

Sec. 3. Section 46b-38tt of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(a) [Two persons who are parties] Either party to a valid civil union performed in a foreign jurisdiction may bring an action for dissolution, annulment or legal separation of the civil union in this state, and the Superior Court may enter an order of dissolution, annulment or legal separation of the civil union.

(b) The procedures and requirements in the general statutes for the dissolution, annulment or legal separation of a marriage, whether applicable prejudgment or postjudgment, or requirements for enforcement or modification of a foreign matrimonial judgment, shall apply to the dissolution, annulment or legal separation of a civil union or enforcement or modification of a foreign civil union judgment. The substantive law in the general statutes that applies to the dissolution of a marriage, annulment or legal separation, whether applicable prejudgment or postjudgment, shall apply to the dissolution, annulment or legal separation of a valid civil union performed in a foreign jurisdiction.

Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2013) (a) Any person seeking custody of a minor child pursuant to section 46b-56 of the general statutes or pursuant to an action brought under section 46b-40 of the general statutes may make an application to the Superior Court for an emergency ex parte order of custody when such person believes an immediate and present risk of physical danger or psychological harm to the child exists.

(b) The application shall be accompanied by an affidavit made under oath which includes a statement (1) of the conditions requiring an emergency ex parte order, (2) that an emergency ex parte order is in the best interests of the child, and (3) of the actions taken by the applicant or any other person to inform the respondent of the request or, if no such actions to inform the respondent were taken, the reasons why the court should consider such application on an ex parte basis absent such actions.

(c) Upon receipt of the application, the court shall order that a hearing on the application be held not later than fourteen days from the date of such order for hearing. If, prior to or after such hearing, the court finds that an immediate and present risk of physical danger or psychological harm to the child exists, the court may, in its discretion, issue an emergency ex parte order for the protection of the child and may inform the Department of Children and Families of relevant information in the affidavit for investigation purposes. The emergency ex parte order may provide temporary child custody or visitation rights and may enjoin the respondent from: (A) Removing the child from the state; (B) interfering with the applicant's custody of the child; (C) interfering with the child's educational program; or (D) taking any other specific action if the court determines that prohibiting such action is in the best interests of the child. If a postponement of a hearing on the application is requested by either party and granted, no ex parte order shall be granted or continued except upon agreement of the parties or by order of the court for good cause shown.

(d) The applicant shall cause notice of the hearing and a copy of the application, the applicant's affidavit, and the ex parte order, if issued, to be served on the respondent not less than five days before the hearing on the application.

Sec. 5. Subdivision (8) of subsection (c) of section 46b-129 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(8) If the person named as the father appears and admits that he is the father, provide him and the mother with the notices that comply with section 17b-27 and provide them with the opportunity to sign a paternity acknowledgment and affirmation on forms that comply with section 17b-27. Such documents shall be executed and filed in accordance with chapter 815y and a copy delivered to the clerk of the superior court for juvenile matters. The clerk of the superior court for juvenile matters shall send [a certified copy of] the original paternity acknowledgment and affirmation to the Department of Public Health for filing in the paternity registry maintained under section 19a-42a, and shall maintain a [certified] copy of the paternity acknowledgment and affirmation in the court file;

Sec. 6. Subsection (n) of section 46b-129 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(n) If the court has ordered legal guardianship of a child or youth to be vested in a suitable and worthy person pursuant to subsection (j) of this section, the child's or youth's parent or former legal guardian may file a [petition] motion to reinstate guardianship of the child or youth in such parent or former legal guardian. Upon the filing of such a [petition] motion, the court may order the Commissioner of Children and Families to investigate the home conditions and needs of the child or youth and the home conditions of the person seeking reinstatement of guardianship, and to make a recommendation to the court. A party to a [petition] motion for reinstatement of guardianship shall not be entitled to court-appointed counsel or representation by Division of Public Defender Services assigned counsel, except as provided in section 46b-136. Upon finding that the cause for the removal of guardianship no longer exists, and that reinstatement is in the best interests of the child or youth, the court may reinstate the guardianship of the parent or the former legal guardian. No such [petition] motion may be filed more often than once every six months.

Sec. 7. Section 51-15 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(a) In accordance with the provisions of section 51-14, the judges of the Superior Court shall make such orders and rules as they deem necessary or advisable concerning the commencement of process and procedure in flowage petitions, paternity proceedings, replevin, summary process, habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, ne exeat, quo warranto, forcible entry and detainer, peaceable entry and forcible detainer, for paying rewards, [for cases filed on and after January 1, 1994, which are expedited process cases pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 52-195b,] and for the hearing and determination of small claims, including suitable forms of procedure in such cases, exclusive of fees.

(b) The judges of the Superior Court shall adopt orders and rules for the hearing and determination of small claims that shall include: (1) Provisions for the institution of small claims actions by attorneys-at-law on suitable forms to be served by a proper officer or indifferent person upon the defendant in the same manner as complaints are served in civil actions; (2) notice by mail; (3) provisions for the early hearing of actions and rules for hearings in accordance with sections 51-193t and 52-549a, and the elimination of any and all fees or costs, except a fee for small claims procedure as prescribed in section 52-259; (4) modification of any or all existing rules of pleading, practice and evidence; and (5) a stay of the entry of judgment or of the issuance of execution and an alternative procedure according to the usual rules of practice. Such orders and rules shall permit the institution of a small claims action against a nonresident defendant who owns real or personal property in this state and against an out-of-state corporation.

(c) Upon the taking effect of such orders and rules, all provisions of statute, both public and private, and the provisions of any orders or rules adopted by the judges of the Superior Court prior to July 1, 1957, inconsistent with or superseded by them, shall be deemed to be repealed, to the extent necessary to render the orders and rules effective.

(d) The procedure for the hearing and determination of small claims as the same may be prescribed, from time to time, by the judges of the Superior Court shall be used in all small claims sessions of the court. The small claims procedure shall be applicable to all actions, except actions of libel and slander, claiming money damages not in excess of five thousand dollars, and to no other actions. If an action is brought in the small claims session by a tenant pursuant to subsection (g) of section 47a-21 to reclaim any part of a security deposit which may be due, the judicial authority hearing the action may award to the tenant the damages authorized by subsection (d) of said section and, if authorized by the rental agreement or any provision of the general statutes, costs, notwithstanding that the amount of such damages and costs, in the aggregate, exceeds the jurisdictional monetary limit established by this subsection. If a motion is filed to transfer a small claims matter to the regular docket in the court, the moving party shall pay the fee prescribed by section 52-259. The Attorney General or an assistant attorney general, or the head of any state agency or his or her authorized representative, while acting in his or her official capacity shall not be required to pay any small claims court fee. There shall be no charge for copies of service on defendants in small claims matters.

[(e) The orders and rules for the expedited hearing and determination of cases maintained pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 52-195b shall include, but shall not be limited to: The modification of any or all existing rules of pleading, practice and evidence; the adoption of procedures for disclosure of material facts at the time of filing of the matter in court; the waiver of the right to appeal a final judgment entered; the transfer of cases under this subsection to the regular docket of the court; an expedited pretrial conference; an expedited assignment for trial on the merits; and the waiver of the right to a record of the trial proceedings. All expedited process cases shall be heard by a judge of the Superior Court.]

Sec. 8. Subsection (b) of section 51-164n of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any person who is alleged to have committed (1) a violation under the provisions of section 1-9, 1-10, 1-11, 4b-13, 7-13, 7-14, 7-35, 7-41, 7-83, 7-283, 7-325, 7-393, 8-12, 8-25, 8-27, 9-63, 9-322, 9-350, 10-193, 10-197, 10-198, 10-230, 10-251, 10-254, 12-52, 12-170aa, 12-292 or 12-326g, subdivision (4) of section 12-408, subdivision (3), (5) or (6) of section 12-411, section 12-435c, 12-476a, 12-476b, 12-487, 13a-71, 13a-107, 13a-113, 13a-114, 13a-115, 13a-117b, 13a-123, 13a-124, 13a-139, 13a-140, 13a-143b, 13a-247 or 13a-253, subsection (f) of section 13b-42, section 13b-90, 13b-221, 13b-292, 13b-336, 13b-337, 13b-338, 13b-410a, 13b-410b or 13b-410c, subsection (a), (b) or (c) of section 13b-412, section 13b-414, subsection (d) of section 14-12, section 14-20a or 14-27a, subsection (e) of section 14-34a, subsection (d) of section 14-35, section 14-43, 14-49, 14-50a or 14-58, subsection (b) of section 14-66, section 14-66a, 14-66b or 14-67a, subsection (g) of section 14-80, subsection (f) of section 14-80h, section 14-97a, 14-100b, 14-103a, 14-106a, 14-106c, 14-146, 14-152, 14-153 or 14-163b, a first violation as specified in subsection (f) of section 14-164i, section 14-219 as specified in subsection (e) of said section, subdivision (1) of section 14-223a, section 14-240, 14-249 [,] or 14-250, subsection (a) or (c) of section 14-252a, [or] section 14-253a, subsection (a) of section 14-261a, section 14-262, 14-264, 14-267a, 14-269, 14-270, 14-275a, 14-278 or 14-279, subsection (e) or (h) of section 14-283, section 14-291, 14-293b, 14-296aa, 14-319, 14-320, 14-321, 14-325a, 14-326, 14-330 or 14-332a, subdivision (1), (2) or (3) of section 14-386a, section 15-25 or 15-33, subdivision (1) of section 15-97, subsection (a) of section 15-115, section 16-44, 16-256, 16-256e, 16a-15 or 16a-22, subsection (a) or (b) of section 16a-22h, section 17a-24, 17a-145, 17a-149, 17a-152, 17a-465, 17a-642, 17b-124, 17b-131, 17b-137 or 17b-734, subsection (b) of section 17b-736, section 19a-30, 19a-33, 19a-39 or 19a-87, subsection (b) of section 19a-87a, section 19a-91, 19a-105, 19a-107, 19a-113, 19a-215, 19a-219, 19a-222, 19a-224, 19a-286, 19a-287, 19a-297, 19a-301, 19a-309, 19a-335, 19a-336, 19a-338, 19a-339, 19a-340, 19a-425, 19a-502, 20-7a, 20-14, 20-158, 20-231, 20-249, 20-257, 20-265, 20-324e, 20-341l, 20-366, 20-597, 20-608, 20-610, 21-1, 21-30, 21-38, 21-39, 21-43, 21-47, 21-48, 21-63 or 21-76a, subdivision (1) of section 21a-19, section 21a-21, subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 21a-25, section 21a-26 or 21a-30, subsection (a) of section 21a-37, section 21a-46, 21a-61, 21a-63 or 21a-77, subsection (b) of section 21a-79, section 21a-85 or 21a-154, subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 21a-159, subsection (a) of section 21a-279a, section 22-12b, 22-13, 22-14, 22-15, 22-16, 22-29, 22-34, 22-35, 22-36, 22-38, 22-39, 22-39a, 22-39b, 22-39c, 22-39d, 22-39e, 22-49, 22-54, 22-61, 22-89, 22-90, 22-98, 22-99, 22-100, 22-111o, 22-167, 22-279, 22-280a, 22-318a, 22-320h, 22-324a, 22-326 or 22-342, subsection (b), (e) or (f) of section 22-344, section 22-359, 22-366, 22-391, 22-413, 22-414, 22-415, 22a-66a or 22a-246, subsection (a) of section 22a-250, subsection (e) of section 22a-256h, section 22a-363, 22a-381d, 22a-449, 22a-461, 23-37, 23-38, 23-46 or 23-61b, subsection (a) or subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 23-65, section 25-37 or 25-40, subsection (a) of section 25-43, section 25-135, 26-18, 26-19, 26-21, 26-31, 26-40, 26-40a, 26-42, 26-49, 26-54, 26-56, 26-58 or 26-59, subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of section 26-61, section 26-64, subdivision (1) of section 26-76, section 26-79, 26-87, 26-89, 26-91, 26-94, 26-97, 26-98, 26-104, 26-105, 26-107, 26-117, 26-128, 26-131, 26-132, 26-138 or 26-141, subdivision (1) of section 26-186, section 26-207, 26-215, 26-217 or 26-224a, subdivision (1) of section 26-226, section 26-227, 26-230, 26-232, 26-244, 26-257a, 26-260, 26-276, 26-284, 26-285, 26-286, 26-288, 26-294, 28-13, 29-6a, 29-25, 29-109, 29-143o, 29-143z or 29-156a, subsection (b), (d), (e) or (g) of section 29-161q, section 29-161y or 29-161z, subdivision (1) of section 29-198, section 29-210, 29-243 or 29-277, subsection (c) of section 29-291c, section 29-316, 29-318, 29-381, 30-48a, 30-86a, 31-3, 31-10, 31-11, 31-12, 31-13, 31-14, 31-15, 31-16, 31-18, 31-23, 31-24, 31-25, 31-32, 31-36, 31-38, 31-38a, 31-40, 31-44, 31-47, 31-48, 31-51, 31-51k, 31-52, 31-52a or 31-54, subsection (a) or (c) of section 31-69, section 31-70, 31-74, 31-75, 31-76, 31-76a, 31-89b or 31-134, subsection (i) of section 31-273, section 31-288, subdivision (1) of section 35-20, section 36a-787, 42-230, 45a-283, 45a-450, 45a-634 or 45a-658, subdivision (13) or (14) of section 46a-54, section 46a-59, 46b-22, 46b-24, 46b-34, 47-34a, 47-47, 49-8a, 49-16, 53-133, 53-199, 53-212a, 53-249a, 53-252, 53-264, 53-280, 53-302a, 53-303e, 53-311a, 53-321, 53-322, 53-323, 53-331, 53-344 or 53-450, or (2) a violation under the provisions of chapter 268, or (3) a violation of any regulation adopted in accordance with the provisions of section 12-484, 12-487 or 13b-410, or (4) a violation of any ordinance, regulation or bylaw of any town, city or borough, except violations of building codes and the health code, for which the penalty exceeds ninety dollars but does not exceed two hundred fifty dollars, unless such town, city or borough has established a payment and hearing procedure for such violation pursuant to section 7-152c, shall follow the procedures set forth in this section.

Sec. 9. Section 51-190a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(a) In the trial of an action before a judge of the Superior Court that might have been brought to the Superior Court, the judge, when a decision has been reached, shall [lodge the file and] file the papers in the action and a memorandum of [his] decision with the clerk of the Superior Court who would have been the custodian thereof had the action been tried by the court in the judicial district.

(b) In the trial of an action before a judge of the Superior Court that could not have been brought to the Superior Court, the judge, when a decision has been reached, if the action relates to an interest in land, shall [lodge the file and] file the papers in the action and a memorandum of [his] decision with the clerk of the superior court in the judicial district in which the land affected is located.

(c) When an action is tried by a judge of the Superior Court other than those mentioned in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, and it is not otherwise provided by law where the [file and] papers shall be [lodged] filed, the judge, when a decision has been reached, shall designate a clerk of the Superior Court with whom the [file and] papers shall be [lodged] filed and shall thereupon [lodge them] file the papers and a memorandum of [his] decision with the clerk.

(d) The clerk of the Superior Court with whom [a file,] the papers and memorandum of decision are [lodged] filed pursuant to this section is the lawful custodian thereof.

Sec. 10. Subsection (d) of section 51-193c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(d) Any notice, order, judgment, decision, decree, memorandum, ruling, opinion, mittimus or similar document that is issued by the Superior Court or by a judge, judge trial referee or family support magistrate thereof, [or] by a magistrate appointed pursuant to section 51-193l or by a commissioner of the superior court approved by the Chief Court Administrator to hear small claims pursuant to section 52-549d, may be signed or verified by computer or facsimile transmission or by employing other technology in accordance with procedures and technical standards established by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator, and such notice, order, judgment, decision, decree, memorandum, ruling, opinion, mittimus or similar document shall have the same validity and status as a paper document that was signed or verified by the Superior Court or by a judge, judge trial referee or family support magistrate thereof, [or] by a magistrate appointed pursuant to section 51-193l or by a commissioner of the superior court approved by the Chief Court Administrator to hear small claims pursuant to section 52-549d.

Sec. 11. Subsection (b) of section 52-156 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(b) Depositions taken pursuant to this section shall be sealed and directed to the clerk of the superior court for the judicial district in which the petitioners or some of them reside, or, if none of the petitioners resides within this state, to the clerk of the superior court for the judicial district in which the respondents or some of them reside. The clerk shall [open and lodge the] file the sealed depositions [on file,] together with the petition and all the proceedings thereon. Copies of depositions taken in the manner prescribed in this section and certified by the clerk of the court shall be received in evidence in the cause for which they were taken, and in all other causes in which the same subject matter is in suit between the same parties, or between the heirs or personal representatives of the persons who petitioned for the taking of the depositions and the other parties thereto.

Sec. 12. Subsection (b) of section 54-209 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):

(b) The Office of Victim Services or, on review, a victim compensation commissioner may also order the payment of compensation in accordance with the provisions of sections 54-201 to 54-233, inclusive, for personal injury or death that resulted from the operation of a motor vehicle by another person who was subsequently convicted with respect to such operation for a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of section 14-224 or section 14-225, 14-227a, 53a-56b or 53a-60d. In the absence of a conviction, the Office of Victim Services or, on review, a victim compensation commissioner may order payment of compensation under this section if, upon consideration of all circumstances determined to be relevant, the office or commissioner, as the case may be, reasonably concludes that another person has operated a motor vehicle in violation of subsection (a) or (b) of section 14-224 or section 14-225, 14-227a, 53a-56b or 53a-60d.

Sec. 13. Section 52-195b of the general statutes is repealed. (Effective October 1, 2013)

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	October 1, 2013	46b-1
Sec. 2	October 1, 2013	46b-15(b)
Sec. 3	October 1, 2013	46b-38tt
Sec. 4	October 1, 2013	New section
Sec. 5	October 1, 2013	46b-129(c)(8)
Sec. 6	October 1, 2013	46b-129(n)
Sec. 7	October 1, 2013	51-15
Sec. 8	October 1, 2013	51-164n(b)
Sec. 9	October 1, 2013	51-190a
Sec. 10	October 1, 2013	51-193c(d)
Sec. 11	October 1, 2013	52-156(b)
Sec. 12	October 1, 2013	54-209(b)
Sec. 13	October 1, 2013	Repealer section

Statement of Purpose:

To: (1) Make conforming changes regarding the dissolution, annulment or legal separation of a civil union; (2) address expiring ex parte restraining orders when the court is unexpectedly closed on the date of a scheduled hearing; (3) allow emergency ex parte custody applications; (4) make technical changes to recent paternity and guardianship legislation; (5) implement the recommendation of the Commission on Civil Court Alternative Dispute Resolution regarding an under-utilized program for referral of civil actions involving motor vehicles; (6) allow fines to be paid by mail for failure to remove snow or ice from a motor vehicle when no personal or property damage results; (7) reflect current procedure regarding the creation of a court file; (8) authorize small claims commissioners to sign their decisions electronically; and (9) clarify that victims of damage that results from an operator of a vehicle evading responsibility may be eligible for victims' compensation.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]