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Committee hears testimony on SB 180 to add 'culture and heritage' to parenting-plan factors
Summary
The House Health and Human Services Committee heard proponents say Senate Bill 180 would help keep Native and descendant children connected to culture and community by adding a fifteenth best-interest factor for judges to consider; members raised questions about language and constitutional concerns and the sponsor said she is open to amendments.
The House Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 180, a measure that would add a requirement that district courts consider a child's "culture and heritage" when crafting parenting plans in divorce cases.
Senator Susan Weber (Senate District 8), who sponsored the bill, said the proposal grew out of concerns from Native communities but would apply to all children. "All this bill asks for ... is to consider the child's culture and heritage," Weber said, describing the addition as a "fifteenth" factor judges may use when determining a child's best interest.
Proponents told the committee the change would fix a gap they say exists between how foster-care and family-law systems treat cultural identity. "SB 180 ensures native children's cultural identities and heritage are recognized in custody and adoption decisions," said Kallie Parr,…
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