SB 355

Did not advance

Family Law – Custody Evaluators – Qualifications and Training

Sponsor: Mary Beth Carozza (District 38)Committee: Judicial ProceedingsSubject: Family LawStatus: Hearing 1/26 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Dec 1, 2021)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring that an individual meet certain educational and experiential requirements in order to be appointed or approved by a court as a custody evaluator; requiring that, beginning October 1, 2022, an individual complete 60 hours of initial training in certain areas in order to be appointed or approved by a court as a custody evaluator; requiring that an individual receive 10 hours of ongoing education and training every 2 years in order to continue to be appointed or approved by a court as a custody evaluator; etc.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (18)

MGA witness list

FAV 10FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 4UnfavorableINFO 3Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Lombardi, Joycelobbyist	Center for Hope - Lifebridge	Written (PDF)
FAV	Griffin, Paullobbyist	Child Justice, Inc. (non-profit org)	Oral
FAV	Shaw, Jen	Gil Institute	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Shapiro, Melanielobbyist	Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ruth, Laure	Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Carozza, Senator Mary Beth	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	McLeod, Hera	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Saunders, Daniel	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Carozza, Senator Carozzalegislator	Individual	Position only
FAV	Spearman, Kathryn	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	vanRoden, Eleni	MSBA Family and Juvenile Law Section	Oral
UNF	Elalamy, Sara	Maryland Judiciary	Written (PDF)
UNF	Glickman, Ilene	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Santoro, Gina	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Marjanovic, Sophia	Maryland Alliance for Court Reform	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Lennig, Dorothylobbyist	House of Ruth MD	Written (PDF)
INFO	Jordan, Lisae Clobbyist	Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)	Written (PDF)
INFO	Wobensmith - Secretary of State, John	Office of the Maryland Secretary of State	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Center for Hope - LifebridgeFAV 1

Child Justice, Inc. (non-profit org)FAV 1

Gil InstituteFAV 1

House of Ruth MDINFO 1

Maryland Alliance for Court ReformFWA 1

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)INFO 1

Maryland JudiciaryUNF 1

Maryland Network Against Domestic ViolenceFAV 1

MSBA Family and Juvenile Law SectionUNF 1

Office of the Maryland Secretary of StateINFO 1

Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc.FAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVLombardi, JoyceCenter for Hope - LifebridgeRegistered for: Center for Hope

FAVGriffin, PaulChild Justice, Inc. (non-profit org)Registered for: Child Justice, Inc.

FAVShapiro, MelanieMaryland Network Against Domestic ViolenceRegistered for: Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence

INFOLennig, DorothyHouse of Ruth MDRegistered for: House of Ruth Maryland

INFOJordan, Lisae CMaryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)Registered for: Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault