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Bill

S 1667

Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2025

119th Congress Introduced by Angela Alsobrooks and 1 co-sponsor

Bill S 1667 bars unqualified forensic child custody evaluators from testifying in family court, ensuring only credible experts influence custody decisions for children's welfare.

Introduced in Senate
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Bill Summary · S 1667

Summary of Bill S 1667

Bill Information

  • Bill Number: S 1667
  • Title: Prohibits certain forensic child custody evaluators from appearing as an expert witness in family court
  • Status: Referred to Judiciary
  • Introduced: January 13, 2025
  • Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

The primary purpose of Bill S 1667 is to enhance the integrity of family court proceedings by restricting the ability of certain forensic child custody evaluators to serve as expert witnesses. This legislation aims to ensure that only qualified and credible evaluators are allowed to influence custody decisions, thereby protecting the welfare of children involved in custody disputes.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibition of Certain Evaluators: The bill specifically targets forensic child custody evaluators who do not meet established professional standards or qualifications. These evaluators would be barred from testifying as expert witnesses in family court cases.
  • Criteria for Evaluators: While the bill does not detail specific criteria within the text provided, it implies that there will be a set of standards that evaluators must meet to be eligible to testify in custody cases.
  • Judicial Oversight: The bill may also include provisions for judicial review of the qualifications of evaluators, ensuring that only those who are deemed competent and credible can participate in custody evaluations.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Forensic Child Custody Evaluators: Those evaluators who do not meet the new standards will be directly impacted, as they will lose the ability to testify in family court.
  • Families in Custody Disputes: The bill aims to protect children and families involved in custody disputes by ensuring that only qualified professionals influence court decisions.
  • Judges and Legal Practitioners: Family court judges and attorneys will need to adapt to the new standards and may have to seek alternative evaluators who meet the criteria set forth by the legislation.

Procedural Timeline

  • January 13, 2025: Bill introduced and referred to the Children and Families Committee.
  • June 10, 2025:
    • Committee discharged and committed to Rules.
    • Ordered to third reading (Calendar 1730).
    • Passed in the Senate.
    • Delivered to the Assembly and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Related Bills

  • S 8578: A prior-session bill that may have addressed similar issues regarding child custody evaluations.
  • S 2084: Another prior-session bill potentially related to family court procedures or child custody matters.

This summary provides an overview of Bill S 1667, highlighting its intent to improve the quality of expert testimony in family court and its potential implications for various stakeholders involved in custody disputes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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