If enacted, this bill would amend several sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes related to parenting time and legal decision-making. The bill introduces new language that prohibits courts from assuming that a parenting plan reflecting shared parenting time is in the best interest of the child. It also updates the factors that courts must consider when determining parenting time, replacing previous criteria with new priorities such as the child's bond with their primary caregiver, the preservation of the child's existing schedule, and the safety and well-being of the child. Additionally, the bill allows for the consideration of a parent's history of substance abuse and the child's adjustment to their home and community.

The bill also makes technical and conforming changes to existing statutes, including the removal of outdated provisions regarding the factors influencing legal decision-making. It clarifies that courts must make specific findings on the record regarding relevant factors in contested parenting time cases and emphasizes that shared legal decision-making does not necessarily equate to equal parenting time. Furthermore, it establishes that modifications to parenting time cannot be presumed to be in the child's best interest simply because they reflect shared parenting time, thereby shifting the focus to a more individualized assessment of each case.

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
House Engrossed Version: 25-403, 25-403.01, 25-403.02, 25-411, 25-403.03, 13-2907.02, 13-3601, 8-201, 25-403.04, 25-403.05, 25-401, 25-408