IS PENNSYLVANIA ON VERGE OF MAKING HISTORY? SHARED PARENTING LEGISLATION -- HB 1639 -- MOVES TO SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Is Pennsylvania on the verge of making history?

Shared Parenting legislation passed one hurdle in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania when House Bill No. 1693 was referred to the Pennsylvania Senate’s Judiciary Committee on 15 June 2010. The Honorable Kathy B. Manderino (D-Montgomery County and Philadelphia County) is the prime sponsor for House Bill No. 1693 which calls for, among other things, “providing for contempt for noncompliance with visitation or partial custody orders and for chid custody”. And the legislation’s “Declaration Of Policy” makes it clear that “it is in the best interest of the child” to have continuing contact with both parents.

The language of "Section 5301. Declaration Of Policy” of Pennsylvania House Bill No. 1693 appears below:

§ 5301. Declaration of Policy.


The General Assembly declares that it is the public policy of this Commonwealth, when in the best interest of the child, to assure a reasonable and continuing contact of the child with both parents after a separation or dissolution of the marriage and the sharing of the rights and responsibilities of child rearing by both parents and continuing contact of the child or children with grandparents when a parent is deceased, divorced or separated.