MONTGOMERY, Alabama - No husband or wife, if the couple had at least one child 18 or younger, could file for divorce unless he or she completed a four-hour ''marriage dissolution education program," under a plan scheduled for debate Tuesday in the state House of Representatives.

If the person decided to go ahead and file for divorce, the other spouse would have to complete the program within 120 days of being served with the divorce petition.

A judge, however, could set aside the requirement for either spouse under the plan, House Bill 482 by Rep. Bill Poole, R-Northport.

In the case of a joint petition for divorce, both spouses would have to complete the education program before filing if the couple had at least one minor child.

At least three hours of the education program would be aimed at ''increasing the parents' sensitivity to children's needs," and at ''giving parents skills to improve their own and their children's adjustment to the breakup of the family."

The program also would have to provide information on reconciliation and ''the potential benefits of avoiding marriage dissolution," and also on divorce litigation and alternatives such as mediation.

''We hope to save a few marriages through the reconciliation process, but the real core intent is to help children by educating their parents on working with the spouse they're in conflict with on how to recognize and address the needs of the children," Poole said.

Each judicial circuit would have to keep a list of its approved marriage dissolution education program classes, which could be completed on the Internet or face to face.

The cost could not exceed $100 per person. Class providers would have to waive the fee for low-income people. A judge ''at his or her discretion" could waive the education requirement if a spouse filed a certificate saying why it would not be reasonably possible for the person to complete the program. Reasons could include not being able to speak or read the languages in which a program was offered, or lack of a nearby class for people without Internet access.

Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, the deputy House minority leader, said the education program sounds like a good idea, but he doesn't think the government should be requiring it.

''It's another intrusion of government in private lives," Jackson said. ''I think people can make the decision (to take classes) without government mandating it."

State Sen. Jerry Fielding, D-Sylacauga, is the sponsor of a virtually identical education plan, Senate Bill 492, which faces debate Wednesday in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Fielding, a retired circuit judge, said the education requirement could act as a speed bump to slow down a divorce that would affect at least one minor child. ''Hopefully, the people would have second thoughts about it and save a marriage," he said.

Fielding said he believes children usually are better off if their parents stay married, but said he knows there are exceptions.

''Some people are going to get a divorce no matter what. ... because the marriage just won't work," he said. ''But there are some marriages that wind up in divorce that could be saved if the right people were to counsel with them before they got a divorce."

Alabama lawmakers are also considering a bill that would allow couples to choose a "covenant marriage" that would require premarital counseling and make it harder to get a divorce.