The bill amends Section 32-717E of the Idaho Code to establish new provisions regarding supervised visitation in child custody cases. It mandates that if a court orders supervised visitation, it must provide clear reasons for this decision, and such orders must be reviewed within 49 days. The bill also stipulates that all supervised visitation orders should include specific conditions for transitioning to unsupervised parenting time and require periodic reviews every 90 days unless otherwise directed by the court. Additionally, preference is given to unpaid supervised access providers agreed upon by the parties involved.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the qualifications and duties of supervised access providers, including the requirement for paid providers to undergo comprehensive background checks. It clarifies that a parent's inability to attend supervised visitation does not equate to a voluntary relinquishment of their time with the child and emphasizes that supervised visitation should not be used as a punitive measure or as leverage in custody disputes. The provisions specifically apply to custody and parenting time determinations between parents and do not affect other legal proceedings under Idaho law. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, due to an emergency declaration.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 32-717E