Shared Parenting Is Up for a vote in the WA State Legislature again *Your action...

[minicoopsmom]

A bill on shared parenting is under consideration, yet again, in the Human Services and Corrections Committee in the legislature in Washington state.

I posted about this last year...and the bill was held up in committee. Now its up for a vote again, let's not let this committee hold this bill hostage!

What you can do:

The following are the 1st steps that we can all take to let people know that we support shared parenting.

We have till Friday at 8 am to make an impact!

1) Pick up your telephone and call each and every one of the senators on the list below and also contact the committee hot line. Call their phone numbers, fax them and then click on the links by their names to send them an email.

If they ask you if you are a constituent, you can say, "that's not the issue here, the point is that this bill should have been passed out of committee last year and needs to be moved onto the floor for a vote by ALL the legislature this year! This committee must take my comments and put this bill to a vote NOW!"

I've attached a form letter here that you can copy and add your own experience and comments to if you choose.

Human Services & Corrections Committee - Telephone: 1-800-562-6000 http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/HSC

James Hargrove - Chair (D) (360) 786-7646 http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/hargrove

Debbie Regala - Vice Chair (D) (360) 786-7652 http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/regala

Val Stevens - Ranking Minority Member (R) (360) 786-7676 http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/stevens

Dale Brandland (R) (360) 786-7682 http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/brandland

 Mike Carrell (bill co-sponsor and major supporter, tell this senator THANKS!!) (R) (360) 786-7654 http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/carrell

Chris Marr (D) (360) 786-7610 http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/marr

Rosemary McAuliffe (D) (360) 786-7600 http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/mcauliffe

THEN contact your friends and family and ask them to do the same!

The more calls, faxes and emails they get, the better they will hear our voices and understand the benefits shared parenting offers families in Washington state (and the less chance that they will table this bill and not vote on it again this year.)!

Senate Bill 5234 is being heard on January 26 in Olympia at 8AM, in the Cherberg Senate Building. You can come to the capital and sit in the audience or you may choose to testify to tell your story to the legislators on how shared parenting could impact your family.

A companion bill in the house has yet to be introduced but is expected as early as next week, once that ball is in play, I will have you do the exact same steps for the House bill, to a different committee.

Shared Parenting Works � Children Need Both Parents!

In Solidarity,
Minicoopsmom

[minicoopsmom]

Here's a form letter, please personalize it with your own story:

[Your Name]
[Street Address]
[City, ST ZIP Code]
(DATE)
[Recipient Name]
[Title]
Dear [Recipient Name]:
The time has come to vote on SB5234 and encourage shared parental responsibility in child custody arrangements. This bill holds tremendous opportunity to do what is right to serve children -- and to help families and parents retain their rights.
Shared parenting reduces divorce, lessens teen pregnancy, decreases poverty, limits high school drop outs, and helps allay numerous other social ills, as well as, seriously cutting the cost of divorce and child custody, which in turn, saves money for children and families.
States across the nation are working toward similar legislation of this nature. All current studies are demonstrating the best interests of the children are to have equal access with both parents.
Shared parenting works; children need both parents.

Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,

[Dez]

Minicoopsmom,

Why is it that we find this stuff out at the last minute? I have had an eye out for bill info and today is the first I've heard anything! I forwarded your post to 'Glenn Sacks' and asked that he support us. (But it is really short notice!)

Since your post is an exact quote of a post @ wacivilrightscounsil are you one in the same poster? Just curious. Going to get busy sending emails now, hoping it's not too late!

Dez

[minicoopsmom]

We find out at the last minute because they'd rather we not know. The more fathers and families that know, the more letters and faxes and emails they will get in support...and also the more people who will come testify in Olympia.

Last year the Chair of the committee said he would not pass the bill w/out 100% of the committee voting for it. I always thought that a majority should be good enough? Although we didn't know, the domestic violence lobby has been informed about it and they oppose it (no surprise there) and they will be there in force to testify as well. The judicial lobby and the bar association are against this as well, it takes money out of divorce court.

Our goal now is to get this out of committee and up for vote on the floor. Its said that the bill has wide support in the house.

I am the same poster on the civil rights council. :)

Thanks for writing! I hope to be back here posting again for similar actions for a house bill and next steps soon.

[justice4daddy]

PLEASE RESPOND IF POSSIBLE

Forgive me, I am new to this site and I am just now educating myself on the family law issues. My husband is a non-custodial parent who NEEDS to be 50%, referring to the SB5234 bill. Where are we with this? Latest information I have read suggests that it has not passed. I have a draft letter to my county representatives and can be ready to mail out in June.

Any other info you have, I would appreciate.

[Armeta]

Do you know if a similar bill will be coming up again in Washington anytime soon?