The bill amends section 3109.042 of the Revised Code to establish a rebuttable presumption that an unmarried female who gives birth to a child is the sole residential parent and legal custodian until a court designates otherwise. It emphasizes that both parents should be treated equally when determining custody. The bill also outlines the conditions under which the presumption can be rebutted, specifically if the natural father establishes a parent-child relationship through methods defined in section 3111.02 or if a birth certificate includes the father's name.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that once the presumption is rebutted, both parents are considered equal residential parents with shared rights and responsibilities regarding parenting time, unless they cannot agree on custody arrangements. In such cases, either parent may initiate judicial proceedings to resolve disputes. The bill also includes provisions that disallow any parent convicted of rape or sexual battery from being designated as a residential parent or legal custodian of the child born from such acts.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3109.042