Bill > SB1702

This bill aims to promote equal parenting rights and responsibilities between divorced or separated parents. Key provisions include: 1. Defining an "equal parenting order" as providing both parents with equal or nearly equal periods of physical possession and access to the child, unless the court determines it is unworkable or not in the best interest of the child. 2. Amending the Family Code to state that the public policy of Texas is to encourage parents to share equally in the rights and duties of raising their child after separation or divorce. 3. Requiring the court to make a written finding to limit the rights and duties of a parent appointed as a conservator, and establishing a rebuttable presumption that joint managing conservatorship with equal rights to possession and access is in the best interest of the child. 4. Providing guidelines for the court to apply the equal parenting order, with exceptions for certain circumstances, and allowing the court to use a standard possession order if the equal parenting order is not appropriate. The bill aims to promote more equal involvement of both parents in their children's lives after a separation or divorce.