In Support of SB 2881 WITH Equal 50/50 time

*UPDATE AS OF APRIL 27th, 2010* The bill failed. Please continue to show your support on DADS of Tennessee via Facebook pages @ http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&tid=1123056772563#!/pages/DADS-of-Tennessee/366276263080









*If you wouldn't mind, please include your Tennessee county in the comment section. Mr. Bell stated that he doesn't think this problem is statewide; let's show him that it most definitely is!*

SB 2881 by *Bunch, Ketron. (*HB 2916 by *Bell, Campfield, Hardaway.)

Bill Summary Under present law, the court has the widest discretion to order a custody arrangement that is in the best interest of the child.

Unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, there is a presumption that joint custody is in the best interest of a minor child where the parents have agreed to joint custody or so agree in open court at a hearing for the purpose of determining the custody of the minor child. For the purpose of assisting the court in making a determination whether an award of joint custody is appropriate, the court may direct that an investigation be conducted. The burden of proof necessary to modify an order of joint custody at a subsequent proceeding is by a preponderance of the evidence.

This bill removes the above provisions regarding joint custody. Instead, under this bill, at any hearing to determine custody of a minor child, the court must order that the child get equal time with each of the child's parents unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that one or both of the parents are unfit to care for the child. This bill would not prohibit both fit parents from voluntarily entering into a parenting plan that does not give the child equal time with each parent, nor would it prohibit the court from giving the child less than equal time with a parent that does not seek equal time with the child. This bill authorizes a court to direct that an investigation be conducted for the purpose of assisting the court in making a custody determination when a parent has been proven to be unfit.

The Rowland Amendment that was added states "maximum time" instead of EQUAL time.

Please vote that this bill be passed and that it is passed with 50/50 EQUAL parenting time!

Don't forget to sign the petition for HB 2916 as well!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/15/in-support-of-the-tennessee-house-bill-2916

If Tennessee passes a law like this then it sets precedent for other states. So pass it along to everyone you know; no matter which state they live in!