FIFTY-SEVENTH WYOMING LEGISLATURE

APPROVED INTERIM COMMITTEE STUDIES

2004 INTERIM

JOINT JUDICIARY INTERIM COMMITTEE

Initial Budget Approved: $25,000

Topic #1:            Split Estates

Note: Management Council has delayed assigning this study topic to any interim committee until the joint executive/legislative committee on split estates created by 2004 HB0001 has completed its work.

Topic #2:            Medical Review Panel/Insurance Reform

Tort reform was considered by the Legislature in the 2003 General Session and again in the current Budget Session, with few proposals being enacted into law.  The Committee will give further consideration to amending the Medical Review Panel and various approaches to addressing the medical malpractice insurance issue, including self-insurance,  re-insurance, rate regulation and funding of damage awards.

Topic #3:            Children's Legal Representation

In 2002, a Title 14 Review Committee made comprehensive recommendations for legislative changes to Title 14 of the Wyoming Statutes, the only portion of which enacted into law in 2003 was the Wyoming Parentage Act. Last interim, the Select Committee on Juveniles was created and considered remaining issues, including creation of an Office of Children Representation. (OCR). The bill establishing the OCR failed, but the Committee believes the issue deserves continued study with increased participation by the Judiciary and the State Bar.

Topic #4:           Title 25, Involuntary Commitments

The Committee has heard testimony that counties are experiencing major impacts to their budgets as a result of involuntary commitment procedures. The Committee will study those procedures to determine if the procedures can be amended to provide relief to the counties.

Topic #5:            Miscellaneous

(a)      Additional issues the Committee will study include:

(i) 04 HB 88, Child protection amendments

(ii) Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act

(iii) Uniform Interstate Family Support Act

(iv)                        03 HB 214, Sex offender registry

(v) National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact

(vi)            Receipt of a report on the Children and Families Initiative

(vii)          Update on progress of prison construction projects required under 03 SF 16

Topic #6:            Child Support Guidelines. (Topic Assigned by Management Council)

Originally requested by the Joint Labor Committee, this topic was reassigned to the Joint Judiciary Interim Committee by the Management Council. The committee will conduct the mandated 5-year review of the statutory child support guidelines as requested by the child support enforcement division.