SB 307 - This act creates three categories of spousal maintenance orders that may be awarded by a court in certain proceedings. "Bridge-the-gap" maintenance orders may be awarded to a party leaving a short-term marriage, defined as having a duration of less than 7 years, to provide support for legitimate short-term needs for no more than 2 years. Such awards shall not be modifiable and shall terminate upon the death or remarriage of one of the parties. "Rehabilitative" maintenance orders may be awarded to assist a party leaving a short-term or moderate-term marriage, defined as having a duration of 7 to less than 17 years. Such awards are designed to facilitate self-support through the redevelopment of previous skills or credentials or the acquisition of education, training, or work experience. There shall be a specific and defined rehabilitative plan prior to awarding a rehabilitative maintenance order and such order shall not exceed four years in duration. Rehabilitative maintenance orders may be terminated upon a substantial change in circumstances, upon noncompliance with the rehabilitative plan, or upon completion of the plan.
"Durational" maintenance orders may be awarded to provide for the needs and necessities of a party as they were established during a moderate-term to long-term marriage, defined as having a duration of 17 or more years. Absent exigent circumstances, defined as a physical or mental disability or other compelling substantial impediments to earning sufficient income, a durational maintenance order shall not remain in effect for more than 5 years if the marriage lasted 7 to less than 10 years, 7 years if the marriage lasted 10 to less than 17 years, and 10 years if the marriage lasted 17 or more years. Durational maintenance orders may be modified as specified in the act.
Maintenance orders may be subject to modification or termination if it can be shown that the recipient and another person have entered into a mutually supportive relationship that is the functional equivalent of marriage that has lasted for at least 12 months in an 18-month period. No order may be modified to extend beyond the durational limits specified in the act.
Finally, the standards of this act shall be applicable to all initial actions and modifications decided after August 28, 2019.
This act is substantially similar to HB 194 (2019).
SARAH HASKINS