HB 581 Summary

• Requires child custody evaluators (licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, and court-approved fact-finding investigators) to complete a minimum 5-hour training course on domestic violence dynamics every three years beginning July 1, 2024.

• Evaluators must submit a letter or certificate of completion to the family court following training and provide copies to parties or their attorneys upon request.

• Existing evaluators on the family court registry as of July 1, 2024 must submit proof of training completion by June 1, 2026; new evaluators must provide proof when seeking appointment.

• Judiciary shall maintain a publicly accessible registry of qualified child custody evaluators and establish a complaint referral process for parties to file complaints against court-appointed evaluators.

• Legislature finds domestic violence training is essential because evaluators without such training may provide recommendations that do not serve the best interests of children in custody disputes.