Bill Text: IA SF72 | 2017-2018 | 87th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to the consideration of gender of the parent in the awarding of joint custody of a child.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-02 - Subcommittee recommends amendment and passage. [SF72 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2017-SF72-Introduced.html
Senate File 72 - Introduced SENATE FILE BY CHELGREN A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to the consideration of gender of the parent in 2 the awarding of joint custody of a child. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 1466XS (3) 87 pf/nh PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 598.41, Code 2017, is amended by adding 1 2 the following new subsection: 1 3 NEW SUBSECTION. 3A. In considering what custody 1 4 arrangement under subsection 2 is in the best interest of the 1 5 minor child, the court shall not give preference to either 1 6 parent in the awarding of custody based on that parent's 1 7 gender. The court shall not presume that a parent, solely 1 8 because of the parent's gender, is more qualified than the 1 9 other parent to be awarded legal custody of the child. 1 10 EXPLANATION 1 11 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 1 12 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. 1 13 This bill provides that in awarding joint legal custody of a 1 14 child to a parent when the parents do not agree to joint legal 1 15 custody, the court shall not give preference to either parent 1 16 in the awarding of custody based on that parent's gender. The 1 17 court shall not presume that a parent, solely because of the 1 18 parent's gender, is more qualified than the other parent to be 1 19 awarded legal custody of the child. LSB 1466XS (3) 87 pf/nh
