Married couples seeking to end their less-than-blessed union may be getting a lesson on the ins and outs of divorce from the state, if some House lawmakers have their way.

House Bill 128, which passed in a House committee on Wednesday, would require that couples seeking a divorce attend a mandatory class. The course would go over some of the legal, financial and psychological effects of divorce, as well as the effects that a divorce has on children.

The class would be required of couples who are seeking a divorce, even if they don't have children.

Rep. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake City, expressed her concern that this bill might be a case of the government overreaching.

"I still have a great deal of concern that the government is trying to dictate to two people that they need to take classes, and that it's actually required. It's a mandate to even follow through with a desire of theirs to get a divorce, and there's no children involved in the situation, so I just struggle with this. I don't think it's appropriate for government to be dictating this," she said.

Rep. Lorie Fowlke, R-Orem, said that the bill was designed to help people make an informed choice.

"We have a significant interest as a society in helping people have information to make informed choices, whether it's to try to salvage a marriage or go ahead and do a divorce with the least amount of conflict," she said.

Utah already provides a parental divorce education class which has many of the same features of the proposed legislation. Fowlke says that because this program is already in place, the new legislation can be implemented with minimal effort or cost. The bill appropriates $145,700 for 2008's mandatory divorce education program.

The bill also adds another option for couples in lieu of divorce. The bill would give couples the option of requesting courts issue a temporary separation order. The order would require that couples attend the divorce education class, and would cost couples an additional $25 on top of the class fee. The $25 fee, however, would be applied to the cost of filing for the divorce if the couple decides end the marriage.

"Studies have shown that families can recover from divorce (and) they do better if there is less conflict, "Fowlke said.

The bill passed in a 6-3 vote.

HB 128, Divorce Orientation, Rep. Lorie Fowlke, R-Orem. This bill mandates divorce orientation classes as a precursor to divorce and provides for an optional temporary separation order.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A3.