SB 603

This bill extends the authority of a court commissioner to preside over a final

hearing in an action for legal separation under certain circumstances. Under current

law, a court commissioner may preside over a final hearing to determine whether a

judgment of divorce will be granted if both parties to the action state that the

marriage is irretrievably broken and that the parties have resolved all material

issues or if one party does not participate in the divorce action. This bill extends that

authority to actions for legal separation. Under the bill, the court commissioner may

preside over a final hearing to determine if a judgment of legal separation will be

granted if both parties to the action state that the marital relationship is broken and

that the parties have resolved all material issues. The court commissioner may also

preside over any hearing held to determine whether a judgment of legal separation

will be granted when one party does not participate in the action. Under current law,

a court commissioner may proceed to grant and enter judgment in an action for

divorce over which the commissioner has presided unless the commissioner does not

approve of an agreement between the parties on material issues. Under the bill, a

court commissioner may exercise that same authority in an action for legal

separation.