Bill > SF4039

This bill aims to regulate the use of parenting consultants in family court cases in Minnesota by establishing specific qualifications and clarifying their role. A parenting consultant is defined as a neutral third party hired by parents to help resolve disputes related to custody and parenting time, but they cannot change existing court orders or the awarded percentages of parenting time. The bill mandates that these consultants must meet certain qualifications, either as a parenting time expeditor or as a licensed marriage and family therapist. It also outlines that either parent can remove a parenting consultant by providing written notice to the consultant, the court, and all parties involved, and the court can also remove a consultant if it's not in the child's best interest. Crucially, the bill states that decisions made by parenting consultants are not binding on parents or the court, and any evidence, evaluations, or recommendations from a parenting consultant will not be admissible in court proceedings.