ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

House: GOV DPA 4-3-0-0

HB 2256: parental alienation; testimony; prohibition

Sponsor: Representative Keshel, LD 17

Caucus & COW

Overview

Prohibits a court from making a decision in specified family court proceedings based solely on an allegation of parental alienation.

History

Legal decision-making is the legal right and responsibility to make all nonemergency legal decisions for a child. Parenting time refers to the amount of time during which each parent has access to a child. The court is required to make a decision in either of these proceedings based on all factors considered relevant to the child's physical and emotional well-being. Any modification to these agreements are subject to the review of certain factors including domestic violence, status as a military parent and the consideration of time (A.R.S. §§ 25-401, 25-403, 25-411).

Provisions

1. Prohibits a court from taking testimony or ruling on a legal decision-making or parenting time petition based solely on an allegation of parental alienation. (Sec. 1)

2. Defines parental alienation. (Sec. 1)

Amendments

Committee on Government

1. Changes the definition of parental alienation to include alienating behavior, resist-refuse dynamics, parent child contact problems, rejected parent, aligned parent, enmeshed parent, preferred parent and alienated parent.

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5. HB 2256

6. Initials JH/SR Page 0 Caucus & COW

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