CHAPTER 481
FORMERLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 699
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 13 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DOMESTIC RELATIONS TO CREATE A FAMILY LAW COMMISSION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend Title 13 of the Delaware Code by adding a new Chapter 20 to read as follows:
"CHAPTER 20. COMMISSION ON FAMILY LAW
§2001. Creation
The General Assembly hereby creates a permanent Commission on Family Law.
§2002. Composition
The Commission shall consist of 9 citizens of the State of Delaware and shall have at least 2 members from Sussex County and at least 2 members from Kent County. At least 2 of the members of the Commission shall be attorneys licensed to practice law In Delaware; at least 1 member shall be a Judge of the Family Court of the State of Delaware; at least 1 member shall be a member of the House of Representatives and at least 1 member shall be a member of the Senate when appointed.
§2003. Appointment; terms of office
The members of the Commission shall be appointed Jointly by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives who shall designate one member of the Commission to serve as Chairman during his or her term of office.
initial members. Nine members of the Commission shall be appointed to take office on September 1, 1984. Three of them (Including the Chairman) shall be appointed for a term of 3 years; 3 of them for a term of 2 years; and 3 of them for a term of 1 year.
Subsequent members. After the initial appointment of members of the Commission, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint 3 new members of the Commission each year for a 3-year term. They shall also jointly appoint members of the Commission to complete the remaining portion of the term of a member who has resigned or has been removed from the Commission.
Term of office. Initial members of the Commission shall serve for the term of office designated in their appointment. Subsequent members shall serve for a term of 3 years. Members of the Commission may be removed by a majority vote in the House and Senate with or without cause.
Officers. The Chairman of the Commission shall appoint a Vice-Chairman and Secretary of the Commission and such other officers of the Commission as the Chairman deems necessary or desirable to assist the Commission in performing its duties, all to serve at the pleasure of the Chairman.
Compensation. No member shall receive any compensation for his or her service on the Commission, but members may be reimbursed from time to time for their expenses in connection with the Commission's activities.
§2004. Purpose; powers; duties
The Commission shall study and evaluate the domestic relations laws of the State of Delaware and the rules and procedures of the Family Court; review legislation affecting relations law introduced In the General Assembly and Family Court rules and procedures; disseminate Information about family law to the citizens of Delaware and engage in such other activities as it may deem appropriate in connection with the study, analysis, review and dissemination of information concerning family law. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the Commission may:
Conduct public hearings;
Invite written comments on family law from members of the public;
Review and comment upon legislation affecting family law introduced in the General Assembly at the request of any member of the General Assembly or on its own initiative; and
Publish and disseminate information concerning family law to the public.
The Commission shall meet at least 4 times each year and shall report to the General Assembly its activities and recommendations at least once every year on or before March 15. The Commission shall not engage in the practice of law; shall not give legal advice of any kind to individuals about their rights or responsibilities (other than publishing and disseminating comments about existing or proposed legislation or Family Court rules and procedures) and shall not intervene, directly or indirectly, in any case pending in any court."
Approved September 29, 1984.