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1997 SESSION

974319350
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 594
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee for Courts of Justice
on February 2, 1997)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate McDonnell)
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study divorce and the financial and other implications thereof.

WHEREAS, in 1972 Virginia law was changed to add no-fault divorce to the list of grounds for divorce; and

WHEREAS, currently divorce may take place whether or not there are children of the marriage; and

WHEREAS, between the years 1960 and 1992, all divorces in Virginia, both fault and no fault, increased by 300%; and

WHEREAS, children of single-parent households have a significantly higher incidence of health and educational problems, emotional difficulties, and drug abuse; and

WHEREAS, 40% of Virginia's single-parent families live in poverty: and

WHEREAS, while women experience a drop in income after divorce, men's income increases; and

WHEREAS, the median annual household income of families headed by single mothers in Virginia is $14,000, as compared with $43,000 for married couples with children; and

WHEREAS, the median earnings of women in Virginia are 69.1% of the median earnings of men in Virginia, despite the fact that 70.8% of Virginia women in the work force are employed full-time; and

WHEREAS, these factors, coupled with the increased divorce rate, suggest we should review Virginia's domestic relations law to determine what, if anything, should be done to discourage divorce, protect women and children, and single-parent families from the effects of divorce; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the needs of families following divorce, examine appropriate measures to ameliorate those needs, review the statutes and caselaw governing divorce, and to determine whether any changes are recommended to Virginia's domestic relations law, including the grounds of divorce, equitqble distribution, and the laws governing spousal support. The scope of the study shall not extend to issues of child support, custody and visitation. The joint subcommittee shall be composed of five members to be appointed as follows: three members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, and two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections.

The direct costs of this study shall not exceed $ 3,000.

The Division of Legislative Services and the Commission on Youth shall provide staff support for the study. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee, upon request.

The subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1998 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for processing legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.