The Assembly today approved a nine-bill package designed to update placement and support obligations for children whose parents are divorced or separated.

The package, which passed via voice vote, includes proposals that would:

*create a process for temporary delegating custodial duties during a parent’s military service.

*allow a court to approve a contingency plan that modifies a custody agreement based on future events such as a child’s school or extracurricular activities.

*update the Department of Children and Families’ administrative rules to reflect that shared physical placement arrangements of a child are now commonplace and should not be considered “special circumstances.”

*add a statement to the general provisions for custody and placement emphasizing parental involvement by both parties is generally in the best interest of the child.

*require a court to explain its reasoning if it grants less than 25 percent physical placement with a parent.

*require parents who are divorcing to file a parenting plan ahead of mediation.

*allow courts involved in family law action to take note of previous domestic abuse charges or restraining orders filed against the other parent.

*eliminate family support orders.

*and bar DCF from factoring variable housing costs into gross income for child support.

Read the bills:

*AB 93, https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab93

*AB 95, https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab95

*AB 96, https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab96

*AB 97, https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab97

*AB 98, https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab98

*AB 99, https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab99