The proposed bill would amend current statutes related to legal decision-making and parenting time proceedings by introducing new provisions that prohibit courts from ordering a party to pay for any therapeutic intervention without their consent. Specifically, it would insert a new section that defines "therapeutic intervention" as any therapy, treatment, or counseling aimed at improving or maintaining parent-child or parent-parent relationships, including court-ordered behavioral interventions. This change aims to ensure that parties have control over their participation in such interventions.

Additionally, the bill would clarify the admissibility of expert testimony in these proceedings. It would maintain the existing criteria for expert qualifications while adding a requirement that the expert's opinion must be supported by established clinical theories. The bill also specifies that individuals offering expert testimony or conducting evaluations must meet these qualifications, thereby reinforcing the standards for expert involvement in legal decision-making and parenting time cases. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the rights of parties in family court by limiting court-mandated therapeutic interventions and ensuring the integrity of expert testimony.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 25-407.01
House Engrossed Version: 25-407.01
Senate Engrossed Version: 25-419