Panel supports bill on parents’ moves
Legislation that would place greater scrutiny on custodial parents attempting to move their children across the state cleared the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
The bill, House Bill 1114, attempts to address a gap in state divorce law regarding parents who attempt to move long distances with their children, while remaining in the state, according to the sponsor, Rep. Mark Lowery, R-Maumelle. Supreme Court case law already covers instances in which a custodial parent wants to move out of the state.
Lowery said his bill was rooted in the personal experience of having an ex-wife attempt to move to Missouri with his children. While his bill would not apply to that scenario, it would require that a custodial parent seeking to move more than 60 miles within the state present evidence to a court showing that the move is in the children’s best interest.
Jeff Wankum, a family attorney in Little Rock, spoke against making a change, saying to do so would be “adding another layer of fear for folks who don’t want to speak out about domestic violence.”
Lowery said he appreciated concerns about the bill, calling it a “very delicate issue,” before asking for a positive recommendation from the committee.
The committee supported the bill on a voice vote, sending it to the full House. Rep. Jamie Scott, D-North Little Rock, who has said she was concerned the bill would add costs to single parents, voiced her dissent. — John Moritz