Wyoming Senate committee adopts Shared Parenting Day resolution after softening disputed language
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Summary
Senate Joint Resolution 6, designating April 26 as Shared Parenting Day, was adopted as amended after the committee removed a clause criticized for implying single-parent status alone causes negative outcomes; vote was 5–0.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to report Senate Joint Resolution 6 favorably after adopting an amendment that removed language some witnesses said unfairly characterized single parents.
Senator Pearson, sponsor of SJ Res 6, described the measure as a recognition of ‘‘the irreplaceable role of both parents’’ and asked the committee to recognize April 26 as Shared Parenting Day to promote cooperative parenting when it is appropriate. He read the resolution and framed it as an aspirational message about children’s wellbeing.
During public comment, Micah Richardson of the Wyoming Women’s Foundation (at the Wyoming Community Foundation) said the committee should keep the resolution’s positive aim but remove a whereas clause beginning on page 1, line 6, that states children raised by a single parent are disproportionately represented in negative outcomes. Richardson argued the research does not support the inference that single parenting alone causes those outcomes, and she warned the clause could stigmatize single parents or overlook contributing factors such as poverty, housing instability and parental conflict.
Committee members debated the point. Senator Crum moved to strike lines 6–12; Senator Crago seconded the amendment. The amendment was adopted by voice vote. Senator Pearson said he believed the modified resolution still sent a strong message.
The committee then recorded a roll-call vote on the resolution as amended: Senators Crago, Crum, Hicks, Kolb and Chairman Olsen voted aye and the measure was recommended to pass out of committee, 5–0.
Next step: the amended resolution will be transmitted to the Senate floor for further action.
