S.B. 595 (S-1): COMMITTEE SUMMARY                             JOINT CUSTODY PRESUMPTION

Senate Bill 595 (Substitute S-1) Sponsor: Senator Joel D. Gougeon

Committee: Families, Mental Health and Human Services Date Completed: 11-9-95

SUMMARY OF SENATE BILL 595 (Substitute S-1):

The bill would amend the Child Custody Act to provide that, in a custody dispute between parents, the court would have to presume that joint custody should be ordered, and the parents would have to be advised of the presumption of joint custody. The court would have to state on the record the reasons for granting or denying joint custody. The court would have to order joint custody unless it determined on the record that joint custody was not in the best interest of the child.

The bill would replace current provisions that require the parents in a custody dispute to be advised of joint custody; require the court, at the request of either party, to consider an award of joint custody, and state on the record the reasons for granting or denying a request; permit the court to consider joint custody in all other cases; and require the court to determine whether joint custody is in the best interests of the child.

MCL 722.26a                                                                                 Legislative Analyst: S. Margules

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Fiscal Analyst: M. Bain

S9596\S595SB

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.

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