LITTLE ROCK — A bill aimed at giving noncustodial parents more information about their children’s activities cleared a House committee Wednesday.
House Bill 1145 by Rep. Clark Hall, D-Marvell, would require a custodial parent to give the noncustodial parent the information if the noncustodial parent requests it.
The House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth,Legislative and Military Affairs recommended the bill to the House.
“I wish we had this law when I had my divorce,” said Rep. Loy Mauch, R-Bismarck.
Mauch said that would have helped him on numerous occasions.
The bill requires the custodial parent to the give information in a “timely manner ” to the noncustodial parent.
The activities covered are defined as “programs in which the child is involved” including plays; dance, music and art classes; day-care and preschool programs.
Academic records already have to be shared.
Some committee members, including Rep. Lori Benedict, R-Salem, wondered how the bill would be enforced and whether it would burden custodial parents. She said some noncustodialparents can’t be found.
Hall said the bill doesn’t place any requirement on the custodial parent to contact the noncustodial parent, unless the noncustodial parent requests the information.
Re p. David Sanders, R-Little Rock, said the bill would go toward improving parental involvement in raising children. He said legislators often talk about helping families so it makes sense to go along with the bill.
Hall said if the custodial parent refuses to give the information to the noncustodial parent, the noncustodial parent can ask a judge to enforce the law. He said that’s the same path that parents must take with other requirements in divorce actions that aren’t being followed by the other parent.
Front Section, Pages 7 on 02/10/2011