SB24 Summary: Children's Equal Access Act

• Creates rebuttable presumption that fit grandparents' visitation ability is in child's best interest when parent(s) divorced or deceased, extending the timeframe for establishing significant relationships from three to five years.

• Prohibits Alabama courts from enforcing grandparent visitation orders from foreign states unless those orders include specific written findings based on clear and convincing evidence meeting the bill's standards.

• Establishes rebuttable presumption that joint custody is in child's best interest; requires parenting plans in all custody cases (not just joint custody cases) with court authority to establish plans when parents cannot agree.

• Requires all courts to enforce parenting time, custody, and child support orders with equal importance; creates remedies for parental non-compliance including make-up time, attorney's fees, mandatory parenting courses, and cost reimbursement.

• Becomes effective January 1, 2023, and applies only to orders issued on or after that date; does not constitute material change of circumstances for modifying pre-2023 orders.