This bill amends sections 14-09-00.1 and 14-09-29 of the North Dakota Century Code, focusing on parental rights and responsibilities. It introduces new definitions, including "shared decisionmaking responsibility," which allows each parent to make routine decisions during their parenting time while requiring joint decisions on major issues such as education and health care. Additionally, "shared residential responsibility" is defined as each parent having equal or approximately equal time with the child, as determined by the court. The bill also removes certain language regarding the context of definitions and clarifies the responsibilities of parents in relation to their children.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that shared decisionmaking and shared residential responsibility are in the best interests of the child, unless evidence suggests otherwise, such as potential harm or domestic violence. It outlines specific conditions under which this presumption does not apply, including instances of domestic violence or sexual abuse. The court is mandated to consider various factors when determining parenting schedules and must ensure that any findings regarding domestic violence lead to appropriate restrictions on parenting time. The bill also addresses the financial responsibilities of perpetrators of domestic violence concerning court-related costs.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 14-09-00.1, 14-09-29