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HCONRES 182 105th Congress House Families Child abuse Child sexual abuse Child support Counseling Crime and Law Enforcement Criminal investigation Custody of children Divorce Education Employee training Family violence Higher education Joint custody of children Labor and Employment Law Mediation Parent and child Professional education Social Welfare

Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to child custody, child abuse, and victims of domestic and family violence.

Introduced: October 30, 1997 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 3, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.
Oct 30, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Oct 30, 1997
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Expresses the sense of the Congress that for purposes of determining child custody it is in the best interest of children to have a presumption that children should have their main physical residence with the primary caretaker parent (unless that parent is unfit). Declares that it is not in the best interest of children to: (1) force parents to share custody over parental objection, or when there is a history of domestic or family violence; (2) punish abused or protective parents who protect themselves or their children; (3) presume that allegations of domestic and family violence are likely to be false, or made for tactical advantage during custody and divorce proceedings; and (4) make "friendly parent" provisions a factor when there is an abusive parent.

Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) child abuse and child sexual abuse allegations should be investigated regardless of when raised or whether the child has recanted the allegation; (2) States should be more protective of victims of family and domestic violence in custody and visitation determinations and not order mediation, couples counseling, shared custody, mutual orders of protection, unsupervised visitation, or other measures when they may endanger such victims; and (3) States should provide training in domestic violence and child abuse, as they impact custody, child support and visitation determinations, to all professionals who interact with children and parents.

What's happening now November 3, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2