HOUSE FILE 2232

BY  WOLFE

A BILL FOR

An Act creating a task force on the awarding of joint physical care in child custody proceedings.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  TASK FORCE —— AWARD OF JOINT PHYSICAL CARE.
   1.  The state court administrator shall convene a task force to review the outcomes of contested child custody proceedings in the state and the awarding of joint physical care. The task force shall consider the positive and negative impacts on parents and children of awarding joint physical care, the rationale of the court in awarding or failing to award joint physical care, and the experiences of other jurisdictions in awarding joint physical care. The study shall consider data, information, case law, and other input from academic, research, legal, and other sources and professionals.
   2.  In appointing members to the task force, the state court administrator shall ensure that the viewpoint of parent advocacy groups, child advocacy groups, academics, policy analysts, judges, court administrators, attorneys, domestic violence advocates, citizen members who are not associated with a parent or child advocacy group, appropriate departments, and other interested parties are represented. 
   3.  The state court administrator shall submit a report to the general assembly on the results of the task force’s evaluation of the awarding of joint physical care, the review of the experiences of other jurisdictions, and the recommendations of the task force no later than December 15, 2012. 
EXPLANATION
   This bill directs the state court administrator to convene a task force to review the outcomes of contested child custody proceedings and the awarding of joint physical care. The task force is to consider the positive and negative impacts on parents and children of awarding joint physical care, the rationale of the court in awarding or failing to award joint physical care in particular cases, and the experiences of other jurisdictions in awarding joint physical care. The study is to consider data, information, case law, and other input from academic, research, legal, and other sources and professionals. The bill directs the state court administrator, in appointing members to the task force, to ensure that varied viewpoints are represented. The state court administrator is to submit a report to the general assembly on the results of the task force’s evaluation of the awarding of joint physical care, the review of the experiences of other jurisdictions, and the recommendations of the task force no later than December 15, 2012.