The bill amends Section 8-10-3.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-10, which pertains to the Family Court, to expand the powers and duties of magistrates appointed by the chief judge of the family court. The amendment allows magistrates to assist the court in various matters, including the enforcement and implementation of specific chapters of the General Laws, and empowers them to hear and determine motions, pretrial conferences, arraignments of juvenile offenders, probable cause hearings, and review matters related to the temporary placement, custody, disposition, and adoption of children, orders of support, final divorce decrees, and testimony in hearings. Magistrates are also authorized to perform acts necessary for the efficient performance of their duties, issue subpoenas, rule on evidence, adjudicate contempt, and review orders by a justice of the family court.

Additionally, the bill specifies that magistrates serve a term of ten years and may be reappointed, subject to the advice and consent of the senate. It also includes new legal language that authorizes magistrates to hear contested divorce matters, which is an insertion into the current law. The bill states that final orders of the family court in proceedings to review a magistrate's order can be appealed to the supreme court. The act is set to take effect upon passage and will apply retroactively to all divorce actions pending at the time of or filed after the effective date of the act.

Statutes affected:
7271: 8-10-3.1