18 Feb Legislative Update and ACTION ALERT – HB431
Action Needed to Reform Outdated Child Custody Laws
Great news! Bipartisan, pro-family legislation has been introduced to protect a child’s relationships with both parents. A bill known as the “Children’s Equal Access Act” has been filed as House Bill 431 (“HB 431”). The Children’s Equal Access Act aims to maximize a child’s time with both parents during a divorce or separation. You can read the bill in its entirety here.
HB 431, includes feedback from consulting experienced attorneys and judges in family law practice, the Alabama Law Institute Family Law Standing Committee, and the Alabama Family Rights Association Advisory Committee.
The Children’s Equal Access Act (HB 431) incorporates recommendations from research-based conclusions of 40 studies and the consensus of over 100 social scientists regarding child custody. These experts agree that “shared parenting should be the norm for parenting plans for children of all ages and produce better outcomes for children compared to current use, “standard visitation”.
Please call or email the House of Representatives listed below, and thank them for sponsoring and co-sponsoring legislation that puts children first in Alabama.
When communicating with Republicans, remind them that the Children’s Equal Access Act is in keeping with their “Flag, FAMILY, Country” agenda for 2018.
When communicating with Democrats, remind them that the Children’s Equal Access Act is in keeping with their “Clean, COMPETENT, and Competitive Alabama” agenda for 2018. It takes the “guess work” from the courts’ decision making process and gives them definitive guidelines.
I know we give you a lot of information at one time. We do that so you will be knowledgeable about what is going on and in hopes that you will feel comfortable when communicating with your representative.
Together we can make our voices heard to support children having two parents.
| Name | Sponsor or Co-Sponsor | Phone | |
| Pettus, Phillip | Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7511 | phillip.pettus@alhouse.gov |
| Alexander, Louise | Co-Sponsor (D) | 334-242-7593 | louise.alexander@alhouse.gov |
| Ball, Mike | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7683 | mikeball@knology.net |
| Beckman, Paul | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7499 | paulbeckmanjr@yahoo.com |
| Brown, K. L. | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-353-1778 | klbrown@cableone.net |
| Butler, Mack | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7446 | mack.butler@alhouse.gov |
| Chesteen, Donnie | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7742 | donnie.chesteen@alhouse.gov |
| Crawford, Danny | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-1616 | danny.crawford@alhouse.gov |
| Drummond, Barbara | Co-Sponsor (D) | 334-242-7764 | drummondbarbara@att.net |
| England, Chris | Co-Sponsor (D) | 334-242-7703 | cengland1@hotmail.com |
| Farley, Allen | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7767 | allenfarley@bellsouth.net |
| Faust, Joe | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7699 | jfaust@baldwincountyal.gov |
| Fincher, Bob | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7708 | rsfincher77@gmail.com |
| Fridy, Matt | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7775 | mdfridy@gmail.com |
| Greer, Lynn | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7576 | lynn.greer@alhouse.gov |
| Holmes, Mike | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7215 | mike.holmes@alhouse.gov |
| Jackson, Thomas | Co-Sponsor (D) | 334-242-7738 | thomas.jackson@alhouse.gov |
| Johnson, Ken | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7754 | ken.johnson@alhouse.gov |
| Lee, Paul W. | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7675 | Pleed86@gmail.com |
| McCutcheon, Mac | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7668 | mac.mccutcheon@speaker.alhouse.gov |
| McMillan, Steve | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7723 | bcld07@gmail.com |
| Mooney, Arnold | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7744 | arnold.mooney@alhouse.gov |
| Moore, Barry | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7773 | barrymoore91@gmail.com |
| Nordgren, Becky | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-353-9032 | becky.nordgren@alhouse.gov |
| Rich, Kerry | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7538 | kerryrich@mclo.org |
| Rowe, Connie C. | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7768 | connie.rowe@alhouse.gov |
| Sells, Chris | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7600 | csea@centurytel.net |
| Shedd, Randall | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7330 | randall.shedd@alhouse.gov |
| Standridge, David | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7475 | david.standridge@alhouse.gov |
| Todd, Patricia | Co-Sponsor (D) | 334-242-7718 | reptodd@gmail.com |
| Wadsworth, Tim | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7554 | wadsworth@centurytel.net |
| Weaver, April | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7731 | april.weaver@alhouse.gov |
| Whorton, Ritchie | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7753 | ritchie.whorton@alhouse.gov |
| Wilcox, Margie | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7546 | margie.wilcox@alhouse.gov |
| Williams, Jack W. | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7600 | jackwilliams55@icloud.com |
| Wingo, Rich | Co-Sponsor (R) | 334-242-7861 | rich.wingo@alhouse.gov |
Thank you so much for taking a moment to stand up and be heard today! Additional action steps will follow.
Debbie Zeiger
ALFRA State Vice President
alfra.org
“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable… Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering,
and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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