HB 285

Family Law - Custody Evaluators - Qualifications and Training

Sponsor: Delegate AtterbearyCommittee: JudiciarySubject: Family LawStatus: Hearing 2/09 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Nov 9, 2023)

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, 2024, an individual complete 20 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 5 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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Testimony (23)

MGA witness list

FAV 7FavorableFWA 5Favorable with amendmentsUNF 10UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Griffin, Paullobbyist	Child Justice, Inc. (non-profit org)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Remington, Claudia	Claudia M Remington	Oral
FAV	Jordan, Lisae Clobbyist	Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)	Position only
FAV	Delegate Atterbeary, Delegate Atterbearylegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hoyer, Anne	Individual	Oral
FAV	Schagrin, judith	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Parvis, Lindsay	Family & Juvenile Law Section - MSBA	Written (PDF)
UNF	Tompsett, Thomas	Harris Jones & Malone	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lennig, Dorothylobbyist	House of Ruth MD	Written (PDF)
UNF	Pipkin, Matthewlobbyist	Maryland Judiciary	Written (PDF)
UNF	Shapiro, Melanielobbyist	Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence	Written (PDF)
UNF	Villamar, Maria Nenutzka	Office of the Public Defender	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Ruth, Laure	Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc.	Written (PDF)
UNF	Dumais, Judge Kathleen	Individual	Oral
UNF	Eyler, Judge Deborah	Individual	Oral
UNF	mcavoy, vince	Individual	Oral
FWA	Savage, Pat	Maryland Psychological Association	Written (PDF)
FWA	aichenbaum, Yaakov	PAS-Intervention MD Chapter	Written (PDF)
FWA	Araquette, Michele	Unstoppable: A Parental Alienation Support Group	Oral
FWA	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Krawczyk, Laurie	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Krone, Christinelobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

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

Claudia M RemingtonFAV 1

Family & Juvenile Law Section - MSBAUNF 1

Harris Jones & MaloneUNF 1

House of Ruth MDUNF 1

Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)FAV 1

Maryland JudiciaryUNF 1

Maryland Network Against Domestic ViolenceUNF 1

Maryland Psychological AssociationFWA 1

Office of the Public DefenderUNF 1

PAS-Intervention MD ChapterFWA 1

Unstoppable: A Parental Alienation Support GroupFWA 1

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

Registered lobbyists who testified

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

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

FAVElliott, RobynRegistered for: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists; Amica Center for Immigrant Rights; CareForth; Chase Brexton Health System; Coordinating Center, The; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition…

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

UNFPipkin, MatthewMaryland JudiciaryRegistered for: Maryland Multi-Housing Association

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

FWAElliott, RobynRegistered for: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists; Amica Center for Immigrant Rights; CareForth; Chase Brexton Health System; Coordinating Center, The; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition…

INFOKrone, ChristineRegistered for: American Coatings Association; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; City of Rockville; Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care, The, LLC (dba The Coordinating Center); Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work, Inc.; LifeSpan Network…