HB 1496 Summary

• Adds definition of "equal residential responsibility" meaning each parent has residential responsibility for the child for an equal amount of time as determined by the court.

• Adds definition of "extended parenting time" meaning parenting time scheduled by court order to exceed an annual total of 100 overnights.

• Adds definition of "shared residential responsibility" meaning each parent has residential responsibility for the child at least 35 percent of the time, but not an equal amount of time.

• Requires courts to consider awarding shared or equal residential responsibility when one party requests it in proceedings to establish or modify parenting time and residential responsibility judgments.

• Requires courts to articulate in their decision the rationale for either awarding or denying a request for shared or equal residential responsibility.