§ 5339. Award of counsel fees, costs and expenses.
(a) Award.--Under this chapter, a court may award reasonable
interim or final counsel fees, costs and expenses to a party if
the court finds that the conduct of another party was obdurate,
vexatious, repetitive or in bad faith. THIS SECTION MAY NOT
APPLY IF THAT PARTY ENGAGED THE JUDICIAL PROCESS IN GOOD FAITH
TO PROTECT THE CHILD FROM HARM.
(b) Other costs.--The court may direct that a party who has
been found to have perpetrated abuse to pay all or a portion of
the fees, costs and expenses incurred by the other party,
including attorney fees, costs relating to any counsel for the
child and treatment expenses incurred relating to the abuse . ,
INCLUDING FEES ASSOCIATED WITH ANY FORM OF SUPERVISED PHYSICAL
CUSTODY.
Section 6. Title 42 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 1908. Child abuse and domestic violence ABUSE education and
training program for judges and court personnel.
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts may develop
and implement an ongoing education and training program for
judges, including magisterial district judges , and relevant
court personnel, including guardians ad litem , COUNSEL FOR
CHILDREN, MASTERS AND MEDIATORS , regarding child abuse,
including child sexual abuse and trauma, domestic violence WHICH
INCLUDES ALL ASPECTS OF MALTREATMENT, INCLUDING SEXUAL ABUSE,
PHYSICAL ABUSE, EMOTIONAL ABUSE, IMPLICIT AND EXPLICIT BIAS,
TRAUMA AND NEGLECT and the impact of child abuse and domestic
violence on children. The education and training program shall
include the latest best practices from evidence-based and peer-
reviewed research . BY RECOGNIZED EXPERTS IN THE TYPES OF ABUSE
DESIGNATED UNDER THIS SECTION. The education and training
20190SB0868PN2008 - 16 -
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