Urges and requests the Select Committee on Women and Children of the Senate to study a parent's right to equal custodial periods with the child.
Impact
If the Select Committee on Women and Children carries out its study, it could lead to significant recommendations regarding legislative changes aimed at family law and custody arrangements in Louisiana. The focus on equal custodial periods aims to foster a healthier environment for children, ensuring both parents have meaningful involvement in their lives. This could involve the creation of programs that not only enable equal custodial arrangements but also address instances of custodial alienation. Such changes might fundamentally shift how courts handle custody issues, potentially leading to broader reforms in family law.
Summary
Senate Resolution 172 (SR172), authored by Senator Barrow, urges the Select Committee on Women and Children to study the rights of parents concerning equal custodial periods with their children. The resolution emphasizes the importance of both parents having frequent and continuing contact with their children, suggesting that equal custodial periods should be a standard practice whenever feasible. The resolution also identifies issues surrounding current custodial arrangements, specifically highlighting how they can sometimes be leveraged for harassment or alienation of one parent against the other, indicating a need for review and improvement.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment regarding SR172 appears to be supportive among those who advocate for children's welfare and parental involvement. Proponents argue that the resolution's intention reflects a progressive step towards ensuring balanced custodial rights, which is critical for a child's development and emotional well-being. However, the discussions may also reveal dissenting opinions on specific implementation strategies or concerns about the complexities involved in equal custodial arrangements in practice.
Contention
There are likely various points of contention that could arise during the Select Committee's study, especially regarding how to effectively implement equal custodial locations in diverse family situations. Critics of flawed custody arrangements may argue about potential negative implications on children's stability when forced into shared custody frameworks without consideration of individual circumstances, such as cases involving domestic abuse or differing parental responsibilities. Additionally, there might be debates about resource allocations for proposed programs to support these changes.
Requests the Senate Committee on Judiciary B and the Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs to meet jointly to study iGaming and report study findings to the Louisiana Senate.
Urges and requests the Louisiana Department of Health to study the feasibility of funding a remote monitoring program for technology-dependent children
Directs the Partners in Protecting Children Subcommittee of the Children's Cabinet Advisory Board to study the needs of the child welfare system in this state
Requests the Department of Children and Family Services to study the feasibility of implementing a 233 helpline as an additional resource for sexual abuse victims in this state
Requests the La. State Bar Association to work with organizations providing legal aid to assist parents and guardians of children with disabilities to obtain permanent tutorships
Urges and requests the Department of Public Safety and Corrections to provide the Senate committees on finance and judiciary C with a list of rehabilitative programs that are offered at each correctional facility.