02211997 - News Article - Family court bill passes finance committee

Family court bill passes finance committee
NWI Times
Feb 21, 1997
http://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/family-court-bill-passes-finance-committee/article_4507535c-f37d-563a-889e-913f80eeb66e.html
VALPARAISO - In preparation for the anticipated passage of a family court pilot program, Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary Harper is studying courts who have successful programs.

Harper learned Thursday the family court proposal before the state Senate has passed another test. The Senate Finance Committee voted unanimously the same day to recommend the passage of the legislation.

Because the bill requires an appropriation by the General Assembly, the finance committee must pass the bill before the entire Senate may vote upon it. The bill is expected to reach the Senate floor next week.

If the bill becomes law, Porter County judges have expressed their interest in applying for the project, which will establish a minimum of three such courts on a trial basis at state cost.

Sen. William Alexa, D-Valparaiso, a sponsor of the bill, has said the county's chances of landing one of the courts are increased if the judges have a plan in place at the time of application.

Harper, who as circuit and juvenile court judge is the most likely to obtain family court jurisdiction, said she has obtained information from family court judges in Hawaii and Florida, two of the country's most successful.

The purpose of a family court is to treat all court cases affecting a family as one unit.

For example, a family's divorce proceedings, juvenile offenses and abuse cases would be heard by a single judge instead of three.

With a family court program, a single judge would oversee each of these cases or at least have a strong information network enabling the judge to recognize the connection between them.

Lake and Porter counties have volunteered to be a part of the program if the bill passes, according to Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard, who strongly supports the program.

In Porter County's case, it may hold the dubious distinction of being the last of Indiana's 92 counties to computerize, but that development may prove lucky in the county's bid for a family court.

The county's new case management system is the latest in technology, according to Porter County Commissioner Karen Hughes.

"It's the most integrated system in the state," Hughes said in recent weeks.

A case management system is considered integral to the success of any family court, according to numerous sources.

Making the county's bid even stronger, according to Hughes, is a clause written into the county's contract with its software provider.

Hughes said if the county's current software cannot handle family court requirements, the software company is obligated to write the program because it must provide all functions mandated by Indiana law.