McCaslin sponsors bill to protect deployed soldiers from being unable to protect their parenting plan rights

January 20, 2009

OLYMPIA…Sen. Bob McCaslin, R-Spokane Valley, has joined in a bipartisan effort to protect deployed soldiers from having their parenting plans altered by their former spouses. 

The measure, Senate Bill 5212, allows servicemen and servicewomen who are deployed, activated or mobilized, or on temporary duty away from their home, to address the court by electronic means if a former spouse files for a change in the parenting plan. 

Expedited hearings may also be requested if the serviceman or servicewoman expects to be deployed, activated, or assigned to temporary duty at another location. 

It is not fair to our men and women in the military to have their visitation or custody rights changed when they are unable to be present in the court to give testimony or present evidence on their behalf,” McCaslin said. 

The bill also states that the effect of a parent’s military duties on his or her parenting functions shall not, by itself, constitute circumstances justifying a permanent modification of a prior decree or plan. 

McCaslin introduced a similar bill (SB 6331) in 2008, which passed the Senate unanimously, but died in the House of Representatives.  

This year McCaslin worked with Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor; the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle;  and the Senate Republican Leader, Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, in re-introducing the bill. 

“I wanted to put more weight behind the bill, so when its gets to the House, there will be strong sponsorship from both sides of the aisle, “McCaslin said. 

McCaslin was reelected last fall to his eighth four-year term in the Senate. He serves as ranking Republican member on the Senate Judiciary Committee and as a member of the Economic Development, Trade and Innovation Committee. 

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For more information contact: Penny Drost (360) 786-7522