Topic:
Parenting time
(Kelly Burke, D-Evergreen Park) recognizes in the purpose and rules of construction section of the Marriage Act that to maximize the opportunity for each child to maintain and strengthen the child's relationship with each parent, the child's best interests may be served with a minimum amount of residential parenting time for each parent of not less than 35% of available residential parenting time. But this presumption regarding the minimum percentage of parenting time shall not, in and of itself, constitute a reason for deviation from the child support guidelines. This bill is being driven by the belief that fit parents are being denied appropriate parenting time by the judges because the "standard visitation schedule" that is awarded is always limited to Friday night to Sunday night every other week and three or four hours after school every other week. House Bill 1452 is scheduled for hearing in House Judiciary Committee next week for a final amendment to clean up the drafting and technical errors.