REP. ARTHUR J. O’NEILL, CHAIR
HON. JULIA L. AURIGEMMA
WILLIAM R. BREETZ
SEN. ERIC D. COLEMAN
PROFESSOR ANNE C. DAILEY
JON P. FITZGERALD
REP. DANIEL J. FOX
BENJAMIN GETTINGER
Connecticut General Assembly
CONNECTICUT LAW REVISION COMMISSION
c/o LEGISLATIVE COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE
ROOM 5500
LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1591
(860) 240-8410
SEN. JOHN A. KISSEL
ELEANOR MICHAEL
NEAL OSSEN
REP. ROSA REBIMBAS
JOEL I. RUDIKOFF
JOSEPH J. SELINGER, JR.
THOMAS J. WELSH
Law Revision Commission
Study committee regarding alimony statutes
MEETING MINUTES
Monday December 9, 2013 10:00 AM
Room 1C - Legislative Office Building
I. The meeting was called to order at 10:15 a.m. by the Chairman of the study committee, Justice Ian McLachlan (Ret.). Members of the study committee present were: Chairman McLachlan, Attorney Barbara Aaron, Attorney Livia Barndollar, Attorney Campbell Barrett, Judge Tom Colin, Attorney Benjamin Gettinger, Attorney Kate Haakonsen, Attorney Bruce Louden, Judge Lisa Morgan, and Attorney Shirley Pripstein. Absent from the meeting was Senator Beth Bye and Attorney Gaetano Ferro.
II. Chairman McLachlan offered introductory remarks and the members of the study committee introduced themselves and indicated their respective experience in family law matters.
III. Chairman McLachlan provided a brief description of the charge of the study committee under Public Act 13-213, Section 5 and described the deadlines set forth in the public act. Chairman McLachlan also provided a brief description of alimony reforms proposed or enacted in other states and a brief history of the "no-fault" divorce laws in effect in Connecticut. Chairman McLachlan described handouts that had been distributed to the study committee members and asked that any study committee member who wished to circulate additional materials to fellow study committee members submit such materials to staff attorney Louise Nadeau in the Legislative Commissioners' Office. Chairman McLachlan proposed holding another meeting after members had an opportunity to review the materials, and proposed holding a public hearing to allow for input prior to the finalization of the study committee's recommendations. The members of the study committee discussed the study committee's charge and deadlines and the advantages of holding a public hearing.
IV. Representative Arthur O'Neill joined the meeting in his capacity as Chairman of the Law Revision Commission. He discussed the timeframes in Public Act 13-213, Section 5, and advised that the Office of Legislative Research had been asked to collect empirical data as prescribed in Public Act 13-213, Section 5. Representative O'Neill and members of the study committee discussed the timeframes under the public act, the potential for continuing the study beyond the February 2014 reporting deadline, and the nature and scope of data to be collected.
V. Chairman McLachlan distributed to members a list of three hypothetical scenarios under which alimony may be awarded and asked members to individually predict potential alimony awards based on the hypothetical scenarios presented. Justice McLachlan and Judge Colin then graphed the responses to determine the extent of consensus and variance in predicted alimony awards.
VI. Chairman McLachlan indicated that he would submit a list of topics for the study committee to consider as well as solicit suggestions from members of the study committee. He asked that members respond to him before the next meeting of the study committee.
VII. Chairman McLachlan polled members regarding potential meeting and hearing dates. Possible dates include January 8th, 15th and 22nd. Chairman McLachlan indicated that the next meeting would tentatively be scheduled for January 8, 2014, and that future meeting and hearing dates could be finalized at that meeting. The members of the study committee indicated a preference for an afternoon meeting time. Chairman McLachlan indicated that the next meeting may be scheduled using an on-line scheduling program such as Doodle Calendar.
VIII. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:11 p.m..
December 10, 2013, Revised December 18, 2013
