HI SB2374

Increases training requirements for child custody evaluators from initial licensing qualifications to a minimum of 40 total hours, including 24 hours required for child custody fact finders plus 16 additional hours on family violence, child abuse, mental health assessment, and related issues.

Establishes new qualifications and duties for child custody fact finders, requiring a master's degree in mental health, social work, or related field (or juris doctorate), 24 hours of annual training, one year of experience, and completion of at least three evaluations.

Defines child custody fact finder role as limited to interviewing parties and collateral sources, observing parent-child interactions, conducting home studies, and reviewing documents—explicitly prohibiting custody recommendations, formal assessments, or parenting plan creation.

Requires child custody evaluators to complete at least one year of experience conducting evaluations, at least three full evaluations, and eight hours of continuing education annually.

Mandates the judiciary maintain a public registry of qualified child custody evaluators and fact finders, and establishes a complaint referral process noting that unlicensed evaluators and fact finders may only be addressed through civil litigation rather than licensing authority oversight.