19 May Legislative Update: CALL NOW – SB266 up for a committee vote
Legislative Alert: CALL NOW! Action is needed to move Senate Bill 266 out of the House Children and Senior Advocacy committee!!!! Let’s make national news by protecting 40,000 Children in Alabama.
SB266 (Children’s Equal Access Act) passed the Senate (25 – 4) on May 2nd and is placed on the House Children and Senior Advocacy Committee calendar for a vote on May 22nd at 10:30 am, in room 429 in the Alabama Statehouse.
- The Children’s Equal Access Act aims to maximize a child’s time with both parents in the event of divorce or separation.
- It should be noted that nothing in SB266 references 50/50 custody or mandates the courts to order 50/50 in any case. The Children’s Equal Access Act simply creates an equitable starting point with guidelines to follow similar to existing child support guidelines.
The members of the Children and Senior Advocacy Committee really need to hear that this issue is important to their constituents and that we are not going away until we have achieved our goal of protecting all children’s relationships equally with both parents! We are asking all SB266 supporters to call or write the committee members before Wednesday to let them know you support equality for children too. You can contact them individually or create a single email to send to all of the committee members.
How can you help?
- Call and email the Committee members (contact information below)
- Ask your family and friends to call and email the Committee members.
- If you call and you hear the following message “Mail box is full” call the House of Representatives front desk at (334) 261-0500 and ask to leave a message for the individual committee member because their “Mail box is full”.
And don’t forget to use one of our key messages:
- I deeply appreciate your commitment to doing what’s right in Montgomery; by putting children’ and families first, please vote “YES” on SB266.
- Every child deserves to be raised by both parents.
- I appreciate your commitment to rebuilding families by fixing Alabama child custody law.
- Please send responses that you receive from committee members to info@alfra.org.
Helpful links:
Below are the listed House Children and Senior Advocacy Committee members:
|
State Rep. |
County |
Office Phone |
District # |
|
|
Brown, K.L. (Chair) |
Calhoun |
(334) 261-0496 |
(256) 435-7042 |
|
|
Shedd, Randall (V-chair) |
Blount, Cullman, Marshall, Morgan |
(334) 261-0530 |
(256) 531-6641 |
|
|
Boyd, Barbara |
Calhoun, Talladega |
(334) 261-0592 |
(256) 741-8683 |
|
|
Carns, Jim |
Jefferson, Shelby |
(334) 261-0429 |
(205) 967-3571 |
|
|
Drummond, Barbara |
Mobile County |
(334) 261-0564 |
||
|
Estes, Tracy |
Lamar, Marion, Winston |
(334) 261-0434 |
||
|
Shaver, Ginny |
Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, DeKalb |
(334) 261-0413 |
||
|
Hanes Jr., Tommy |
DeKalb, Jackson |
(334) 261-0551 |
||
|
Moore, Mary |
Jefferson |
(334) 261-0508 |
(205) 229-9966 |
|
|
Wadsworth, Tim |
Jefferson, Walker, Winston |
(334) 261-0554 |
(205) 712-1792 |
Group email option:
klbrown@cableone.net; randall.shedd@alhouse.gov; barbara.boyd@alhouse.gov; jwcarns@gmail.com; drummondbarbara@att.net; tracy.estes@alhouse.gov; ginny.shaver@alhouse.gov; jhanes55@gmail.com; mamoor48@bellsouth.net; wadsworth@centurytel.net; info@alfra.org
When calling or emailing, urge the committee members to vote YES on SB266.
- “We’re 100% okay with including an amendment to clarify the intent of this legislation. Such as: “a finding by the court that domestic violence and abuse, as defined in Alabama Code – Section 30-3-133 — Determination raises a rebuttable presumption that the child or children reside with the parent who is not the perpetrator.”
Ask them to please vote YES on SB266. (As a reminder, please always be respectful and courteous with your communications.)
Together, we can make our voices heard to support children having two parents!
#ALFRA #SB266
Thank you so much for taking a moment to stand up and be heard! Watch for a similar action request soon for your State Representative when the bill goes to the House for a vote.
Debbie Zeiger
ALFRA State Vice President
alfra.org
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