CHILD CUSTODY: PARENTING PLAN S.B. 966 (S-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 966 (Substitute S-2 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)
Sponsor: Senator Wayne Kuipers
Committee: Judiciary
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Child Custody Act to require the State Court Administrative Office, with the approval and at the direction of the Supreme Court, to develop and make available a form for a parent's use in completing a parenting plan. The court would have to make the form available to the parents of a minor child. The form would have to indicate the subject matter to be addressed in a parenting plan and contain a sworn statement signed by each parent that the parenting plan was proposed in good faith. The form would have to include notice that either party could obtain legal counsel.
If the parents created a parenting plan, it would have to be filed with the court before a hearing on, or determination of, issues regarding a child. A party's failure to file a parenting plan, however, would not be evidence of his or her willingness and ability to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship between the child and the other party.
The bill would take effect on October 1, 2004, and is tie-barred to House Bill 5471 (which would amend the Child Custody Act to require the court to make certain declarations if a parenting plan had been filed and approved).
MCL 722.27a Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
To the extent that the proposed changes would affect judicial efficiency and administrative costs, the bill could have an indeterminate fiscal impact on local court funding units. The bill would have no fiscal impact on the State.
Date Completed: 9-28-04 Fiscal Analyst: Bethany Wicksall
floor\sb966 Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
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.
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. sb966/0304