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Senate adopts child‑visitation guidelines and adds statutory factors to guide courts
Summary
First substitute SB33 establishes statutory visitation guidelines (including age‑specific guidance for children 0–5 drawn from Pima County models) and adds factors that can increase visitation; the measure passed for placement on third reading after floor amendments and debate.
Senator Evans presented first substitute Senate Bill 33, a bill aimed at creating clearer statutory guidance for child visitation orders and adding positive factors that can support increased visitation time.
Evans opened with a personal anecdote about a young child he encountered while campaigning, underscoring the bill's child‑centered intent: "She says, my daddy doesn't live here anymore," he recalled, using the story to frame the goal of more equitable visitation determinations. The bill adds positive considerations (distance between parents, shared interests with the child, availability of the noncustodial parent to care for the child, nursing‑mother provisions, and a requirement that courts list underlying reasons for visitation orders). It also adopts guidelines for children under age 5 based on a Pima County, Ariz., model, prescribing age‑appropriate weekly contact hours, weekend visitation structures and notification periods for extended visits.
Committee and floor debate led to reinstatement of some language deleted in committee (for instance, allowing courts to consider the parental bonding relationship among factors). The bill was reported favorably and placed on the third reading calendar after a recorded roll call (25 ayes, 0 nays, 4 absent).
Provenance: SB33 presentation and floor debate recorded at SEG 2039–SEG 2498.
