If HB2296 were to become law, it would amend existing statutes related to parenting time in Arizona. Specifically, the bill would insert language prohibiting courts from presuming that a parenting plan reflecting shared parenting time is in the best interests of the child. This change would apply to the determination of parenting time and would be included in sections 25-403, 25-403.02, and 25-411 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. Additionally, the bill would make technical and conforming changes to these sections.

The bill would also modify the language regarding the modification of legal decision-making or parenting time decrees. It would replace the term "permits" with "allows" in the context of motions to modify decrees, and it would clarify that courts cannot enter final orders modifying parental rights and responsibilities until 90 days after a military deployment ends, unless agreed upon by the deploying parent. Overall, these updates aim to ensure that shared parenting time is not automatically considered beneficial for the child, thereby requiring a more nuanced evaluation by the courts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 25-403, 25-403.02, 25-411, 25-403.03, 13-2907.02, 25-403.04, 25-403.05, 25-401, 25-408