Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §183, sub-§1, ¶D, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 269, §1 and affected by §2, is amended to read:

D. Family case management officers shall employ appropriate case management techniques and have jurisdiction to hear and dispose of the following matters:

(1) Interim orders in actions involving the establishment, modification or enforcement of child support;

(2) Interim orders in actions involving divorce, legal separation, paternity or parental rights, including interim orders in post-judgment proceedings arising out of these actions, except that a contested motion concerning interim parental rights and responsibilities, excluding interim child support orders, may be determined by the family case management officer only if both parties consent to determination of the issue or issues in dispute by the family case management officer;

(3) Final orders in any of the matters included in subparagraphs (1) and (2) when the proceeding is uncontested;

(4) Final orders in a contested proceeding when child support is the only contested issue or when both parties consent to determination of the issues in dispute by the family case management officer; and

(5) Other actions assigned by the Chief Judge of the District Court.

SUMMARY

This bill gives the family case management officer in the Family Division of the District Court authority to hear contested family cases and enter final orders if both parties agree.