Family Law - Child Custody Evaluators - Qualifications and Training
Sponsor: Aaron M. Kaufman (District 18)Committee: JudiciarySubject: Family LawStatus: Hearing 2/15 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Nov 13, 2024)
What this bill does
Official synopsis
Specifying certain qualifications and training necessary for an individual to be appointed or approved by a court as a custody evaluator; specifying that certain expert evidence is admissible in certain child custody and visitation proceedings under certain circumstances; and requiring a court, in any action in which child support, custody, or visitation is at issue to provide information to the parties regarding the role, availability, and cost of a custody evaluator.
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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 (39)
MGA witness listFAV 21FavorableFWA 5Favorable with amendmentsUNF 12UnfavorableINFO 1Information only
| Position | Witness | Organization | Testimony |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAV | Griffin, Paullobbyist | Child Justice, Inc. | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Griffin, Paullobbyist | Child Justice, Inc. (non-profit org) | Oral |
| FAV | Lane, Wendy | Coalition to Protect Maryland's Children (CPMC) | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Hoyer, Steny | House of Representatives (MD-5) | Oral |
| FAV | Ward, Lindsay | MD Chesapeake Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) | Position only |
| FAV | Swithin, Tina | One Mom’s Battle | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Postmus, Dean Judy | University of Maryland School of Social Work | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Blackstone, Carly | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Carrington, Susan | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Delegate Kaufman, Delegate Kaufmanlegislator | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Elliott, Robynlobbyist | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Hoyer, Anne | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Kenny, Annie | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Kenny, Nora | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | McLeod, Hera | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Rosenberg, Adam | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Spearman, Kathryn | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Taylor, Mallory | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Toyos, Allison | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FAV | Wisch, Sari | Individual | Oral |
| FAV | Wolf, Joslyn | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Kloth-Zanard, Joan | Advocate For Families & PAS Intervention | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Parvis, Lindsay | Family & Juvenile Law Section - MSBA | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Tompsett, Thomas | Harris Jones & Malone | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Hausner, Deena | House of Ruth Maryland | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Miller, Linda | Maryland Judiciary | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Shapiro, Melanielobbyist | Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Layne, Angela | Montgomery County Circuit Court | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Ruth, Laure | Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc. | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Heller, Lawrence | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Sherry, Alissa | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| UNF | Stengel, Mary | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| UNF | mcavoy, vince | Individual | Position only |
| FWA | Ross, Jared | MKB | Written (PDF) |
| FWA | aichenbaum, Yaakov | PAS-Intervention MD Chapter | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FWA | Gizinski, Colleen | Individual | Oral |
| FWA | Krawczyk, Laurie | Individual | Oral + Written (PDF) |
| FWA | Sanchez, Marisa | Individual | Written (PDF) |
| INFO | Government Affairs, Rachel Sledge | Department of Human Services | Written (PDF) |
Organizations on record
Registered lobbyists who testified
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…
UNFShapiro, MelanieMaryland Network Against Domestic ViolenceRegistered for: Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence