Originally published: . Volume 10, No. 7. Source pages: 7.
Representative Coussan's bill has been signed by the Governor and revises conditions for parent training required during custody proceedings.
The previous law authorizes courts to require parties in a custody or visitation proceeding to complete a court-approved seminar to educate the parties of the needs of children.
The new law authorizes courts to require the parties to complete the court- approved program only upon motion of a party, its own motion, or upon agreement of the parties and to render judgment for costs for the program.
The new law qualifies evidence-based nonprofit programs as eligible programs.
"For purposes of this Section, 'instructor' means any psychiatrist, psychologist, professional counselor, social worker licensed under state law, or in any parish other than Orleans, means a person working with a court-approved, evidence- based nonprofit program, or a court- approved nonprofit program of an accredited university created for educating divorcing parents with children. All instructors must have received advanced training in instructing co-parenting or similar seminars programs."
"The seminar program shall focus on the developmental needs of children, with emphasis on fostering the child's emotional health. The seminar program shall be informative and supportive and shall direct people desiring additional information or help to appropriate resources."
Prior law required such seminars to last between three and four hours and cost no more than $25 per person. The new law removes the upper limitation on duration and cost of the program.
The new law prohibits the program instructor from being called as a witness in the custody or visitation proceeding without prior court approval.
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