HB508 - Ohio Children Need Both Parents!
Every child deserves to be loved and cared for by both parents whether their parents are together or not. Too many times though, after a divorce or separation, both parents are not able to be involved in their child’s life equally because Ohio's laws are dated.
Although 40 years of research has clearly indicated that most children do best on all metrics when they have two parents equally involved in their lives, Ohio's revised code is based on the premise of allocating one parent as "custodial" parent and the other as a "non-custodial" visitor. Further, most Ohio counties employ standard parenting schedules that limit the visiting parent to every other weekend, plus one evening a week. This equates to less than 20% of the time.
But Ohio Legislators are trying to change that!
Ohio Representatives Rodney Creech (R- West Alexandria) and Thomas West (D - Canton) are co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill in support of equal shared parenting. HB508 will assure that children can continue in a full relationship with both parents after parents separate and will shield children from the chaos and pain caused by losing a parent simply because the parents are no longer together.
The proposed bill will establish rebuttable presumptions for equal shared parenting when parents divorce or separate.
These presumptions establish that it is in the best interest of children to have equal access to both parents unless there is clear and convincing evidence that it would be detrimental to the child. Additionally, the presumptions would apply to never married parents as long as there is an established relationship between the parent and child. Courts will use these new standards for both temporary and final orders.
It's important to note that while these presumptions can be overcome in certain instances, such as a history of child abuse or neglect, they will provide a much needed assurance that fit and loving parents will be able to continue to parent their children.
By protecting children's right to access both parents equally, and protecting parents' rights to be involved in their children's lives, our families and communities will be stronger and healthier.
The sharing of parental roles and responsibilities promotes the following:
- Increased sense of security and safety for children;
- Increased direct financial support for children;
- Greater freedom for both parents to pursue expanded career opportunities;
- Increased parental harmony;
- Decreased likelihood of poverty;
- Better achievement and attendance in school; and
- Lower levels of problems such as delinquency, heavy drinking, drug use, and early sexual activity.
Ohio's children deserve better when experiencing the separation of their parents, please support Ohio's Equal Parenting Bill TODAY!
CONTACT YOUR OHIO LEGISLATORS TODAY AND TELL THEM TO SUPPORT THE EQUAL PARENTING BILL (HB508)
All Sponsoring Legislators are below. We will update this list as it develops.
If your Representative is listed below, PLEASE use the message tool and send them a note of gratitude!
- Representative Scott Wiggam, District 1 (R - Wayne County)
- Representative Marilyn John, District 2 (R - Shelby)
- Representative Haraz Ghanbari, District 3 (R - Perrysburg)
- Representative Timothy Ginter, District 5 (R - Salem)
- Representative Terrence Upchurch, District 10 (D - Cleveland)
- Representative Stephanie Howse, District 11 (D - Cleveland)
- Representative Juanita Brent, District 12 (D - Cleveland)
- Representative Michael Skindell District 13 (D - Lakewood)
- Representative Kristin Boggs, District 18 (D - Columbus)
- Representative Dontavius Jarrells, District 25 (D - Columbus)
- Representative Thomas Brinkman, District 27 (R - Mt Lookout)
- Representative Cindy Abrams, District 29 (R - Harrison)
- Representative Bill Seitz, District 30 (R - Cincinnati)
- Representative Brigid Kelly, District 31 (D - Cincinnati)
- Representative Catherine Ingram, District 32 (D - Cincinnati)
- Representative Sedrick Denson, District 33 (D - Cincinnati)
- Representative Tavia Galonski, District 35 (D - Akron)
- Representative Bob Young, District 36 (R - Green)
- Representative Casey Weinstein, District 37 (D - Hudson)
- Representative Willis Blackshear, District 39 (D - Dayton)
- Representative Phil Plummer, District 40 (R - Dayton)
- Representative Andrea White, District 41 (R - Kettering)
- Representative Tom Young, District 42 (R- Washington Twp)
- Representative Rodney Creech, District 43 (R - West Alexandria)
- Representative Lisa Sobecki, District 45 (D - Toledo)
- Representative Thomas West, District 49 (D - Canton)
- Representative Reggie Stoltzfus, District 50 (R - Paris Twp)
- Representative Sara Carruthers, District 51 (R - Hamilton)
- Representative Jennifer Gross, District 52 (R - West Chester)
- Representative Thomas Hall, District 53 (R - Madison Twp)
- Representative Joseph Miller III, District 56 (D - Amherst)
- Representative Dick Stein, District 57 (R - Norwalk)
- Representative Al Cutrona, District 59 (R - Canfield)
- Representative Daniel Troy, District 60 (D - Willowick)
- Representative Scott Lipps, District 62 (R - Franklin)
- Representative Mike Loychik, District 63 (R - Bazetta)
- Representative Jean Schmidt, District 65 (R - Miami Twp.)
- Representative Adam Bird, District 66 (R - New Richmond)
- Representative Kris Jordan, District 67 (R - Ostrander)
- Representative Sharon Ray, District 69 (R - Wadsworth)
- Representative Darrell Kick, District 70 (R - Loudonville)
- Representative Mark Fraizer, District 71 (R - Newark)
- Representative Kevin Miller, District 72 (R - Newark)
- Representative Brian Lampton, District 73 (R - Beavercreek)
- Representative Bill Dean, District 74 (R - Xenia)
- Representative Gail Pavliga, District 75 (R - Portage County)
- Representative Jeff LaRe, District 77 (R - Violet Twp)
- Representative Brian Stewart, District 78 (R - Ashville)
- Representative Kyle Koehler, District 79 (R - Springfield)
- Representative Craig Riedel, District 82 (R - Defiance)
- Representative Jon Cross, District 83 (R - Kenton)
- Representative Riordan McClain, District 87 (R - Upper Sandusky)
- Representative Gary Click, District 88 (R- Vickery)
- Representative DJ Swearingen, District 89 (R - Huron)
- Representative Brian Baldridge, District 90 (R - Winchester)
- Representative Mark Johnson, District 92 (R- Chillicothe)
- Representative Jason Stephens, District 93 (R - Kitts Hill)
- Representative Don Jones, District 95 (R- Freeport)
- Representative Ron Ferguson, District 96 (R - Wintersville)
- Representative Adam Holmes, District 97 (R - Nashport)
- Representative Brett Hillyer, District 98 (R - Uhrichsville)
For a more detailed summary of the bill and its provisions, follow this link.
The mission of National Parents Organization (NPO) is to improve the lives of children & strengthen society by protecting every child's right to the love & care of both parents after separation or divorce. NPO promotes shared parenting by educating parents, divorce professionals, and legislators and by reforming family courts and laws in every state. For more detailed information and research on shared parenting and child well-being, visit www.sharedparenting.org/articles
HB508 - Ohio Children Need Both Parents!
Every child deserves to be loved and cared for by both parents whether their parents are together or not. Too many times though, after a divorce or separation, both parents are not able to be involved in their child’s life equally because Ohio's laws are dated.
Although 40 years of research has clearly indicated that most children do best on all metrics when they have two parents equally involved in their lives, Ohio's revised code is based on the premise of allocating one parent as "custodial" parent and the other as a "non-custodial" visitor. Further, most Ohio counties employ standard parenting schedules that limit the visiting parent to every other weekend, plus one evening a week. This equates to less than 20% of the time.
But Ohio Legislators are trying to change that!
Ohio Representatives Rodney Creech (R- West Alexandria) and Thomas West (D - Canton) are co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill in support of equal shared parenting. HB508 will assure that children can continue in a full relationship with both parents after parents separate and will shield children from the chaos and pain caused by losing a parent simply because the parents are no longer together.
The proposed bill will establish rebuttable presumptions for equal shared parenting when parents divorce or separate.
These presumptions establish that it is in the best interest of children to have equal access to both parents unless there is clear and convincing evidence that it would be detrimental to the child. Additionally, the presumptions would apply to never married parents as long as there is an established relationship between the parent and child. Courts will use these new standards for both temporary and final orders.
It's important to note that while these presumptions can be overcome in certain instances, such as a history of child abuse or neglect, they will provide a much needed assurance that fit and loving parents will be able to continue to parent their children.
By protecting children's right to access both parents equally, and protecting parents' rights to be involved in their children's lives, our families and communities will be stronger and healthier.
The sharing of parental roles and responsibilities promotes the following:
- Increased sense of security and safety for children;
- Increased direct financial support for children;
- Greater freedom for both parents to pursue expanded career opportunities;
- Increased parental harmony;
- Decreased likelihood of poverty;
- Better achievement and attendance in school; and
- Lower levels of problems such as delinquency, heavy drinking, drug use, and early sexual activity.
Ohio's children deserve better when experiencing the separation of their parents, please support Ohio's Equal Parenting Bill TODAY!
CONTACT YOUR OHIO LEGISLATORS TODAY AND TELL THEM TO SUPPORT THE EQUAL PARENTING BILL (HB508)
All Sponsoring Legislators are below. We will update this list as it develops.
If your Representative is listed below, PLEASE use the message tool and send them a note of gratitude!
- Representative Scott Wiggam, District 1 (R - Wayne County)
- Representative Marilyn John, District 2 (R - Shelby)
- Representative Haraz Ghanbari, District 3 (R - Perrysburg)
- Representative Timothy Ginter, District 5 (R - Salem)
- Representative Terrence Upchurch, District 10 (D - Cleveland)
- Representative Stephanie Howse, District 11 (D - Cleveland)
- Representative Juanita Brent, District 12 (D - Cleveland)
- Representative Michael Skindell District 13 (D - Lakewood)
- Representative Kristin Boggs, District 18 (D - Columbus)
- Representative Dontavius Jarrells, District 25 (D - Columbus)
- Representative Thomas Brinkman, District 27 (R - Mt Lookout)
- Representative Cindy Abrams, District 29 (R - Harrison)
- Representative Bill Seitz, District 30 (R - Cincinnati)
- Representative Brigid Kelly, District 31 (D - Cincinnati)
- Representative Catherine Ingram, District 32 (D - Cincinnati)
- Representative Sedrick Denson, District 33 (D - Cincinnati)
- Representative Tavia Galonski, District 35 (D - Akron)
- Representative Bob Young, District 36 (R - Green)
- Representative Casey Weinstein, District 37 (D - Hudson)
- Representative Willis Blackshear, District 39 (D - Dayton)
- Representative Phil Plummer, District 40 (R - Dayton)
- Representative Andrea White, District 41 (R - Kettering)
- Representative Tom Young, District 42 (R- Washington Twp)
- Representative Rodney Creech, District 43 (R - West Alexandria)
- Representative Lisa Sobecki, District 45 (D - Toledo)
- Representative Thomas West, District 49 (D - Canton)
- Representative Reggie Stoltzfus, District 50 (R - Paris Twp)
- Representative Sara Carruthers, District 51 (R - Hamilton)
- Representative Jennifer Gross, District 52 (R - West Chester)
- Representative Thomas Hall, District 53 (R - Madison Twp)
- Representative Joseph Miller III, District 56 (D - Amherst)
- Representative Dick Stein, District 57 (R - Norwalk)
- Representative Al Cutrona, District 59 (R - Canfield)
- Representative Daniel Troy, District 60 (D - Willowick)
- Representative Scott Lipps, District 62 (R - Franklin)
- Representative Mike Loychik, District 63 (R - Bazetta)
- Representative Jean Schmidt, District 65 (R - Miami Twp.)
- Representative Adam Bird, District 66 (R - New Richmond)
- Representative Kris Jordan, District 67 (R - Ostrander)
- Representative Sharon Ray, District 69 (R - Wadsworth)
- Representative Darrell Kick, District 70 (R - Loudonville)
- Representative Mark Fraizer, District 71 (R - Newark)
- Representative Kevin Miller, District 72 (R - Newark)
- Representative Brian Lampton, District 73 (R - Beavercreek)
- Representative Bill Dean, District 74 (R - Xenia)
- Representative Gail Pavliga, District 75 (R - Portage County)
- Representative Jeff LaRe, District 77 (R - Violet Twp)
- Representative Brian Stewart, District 78 (R - Ashville)
- Representative Kyle Koehler, District 79 (R - Springfield)
- Representative Craig Riedel, District 82 (R - Defiance)
- Representative Jon Cross, District 83 (R - Kenton)
- Representative Riordan McClain, District 87 (R - Upper Sandusky)
- Representative Gary Click, District 88 (R- Vickery)
- Representative DJ Swearingen, District 89 (R - Huron)
- Representative Brian Baldridge, District 90 (R - Winchester)
- Representative Mark Johnson, District 92 (R- Chillicothe)
- Representative Jason Stephens, District 93 (R - Kitts Hill)
- Representative Don Jones, District 95 (R- Freeport)
- Representative Ron Ferguson, District 96 (R - Wintersville)
- Representative Adam Holmes, District 97 (R - Nashport)
- Representative Brett Hillyer, District 98 (R - Uhrichsville)
For a more detailed summary of the bill and its provisions, follow this link.
The mission of National Parents Organization (NPO) is to improve the lives of children & strengthen society by protecting every child's right to the love & care of both parents after separation or divorce. NPO promotes shared parenting by educating parents, divorce professionals, and legislators and by reforming family courts and laws in every state. For more detailed information and research on shared parenting and child well-being, visit www.sharedparenting.org/articles