Proposed MD legislation could increase training for child custody evaluators

MARYLAND – Maryland lawmakers are aiming to increase qualification and training standards for child custody evaluators, through Senate Bill 13.

Bolstering Training, Requirements

“It requires minimum qualifications and training for the child custody evaluators involved in custody cases, where there are allegations of domestic child abuse,” said bill co-sponsor, State Senator Mary Beth Carozza.

Child custody evaluators would be required to undergo an initial 20 hours of training. They would also take part in an additional five hours of training every two years.

Sen. Carozza was previously appointed to a special workgroup focusing on court proceedings on child custody cases involving allegations of child abuse and domestic violence.

Protecting Children

The senator says for more than 18 months, the work group heard testimony from experts, parents, and child advocacy organizations, highlighting the need for this legislation.

“Those custody evaluators that make these recommendations to the judges, there are no consistent qualifications or training for these custody evaluators,” said Sen. Carozza. “The judges in over 90% of these cases are depending on the recommendations of the child custody evaluators. So, my bill simply puts in the minimum qualifications and training for these child custody evaluators.”

Sen. Carozza adds many other professions are required to undergo specific training by state law. For example, two years ago the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation requiring training and qualifications for animal control officers.

“If you have positions that are not dealing with children, and you have this in law, of course you need to have the qualifications and training for this position, child custody evaluators, that are dealing with our children in these very traumatic cases,” said Sen. Carozza. “[Parents’] expectation is that we would make sure that these child custody evaluators have these minimum qualifications and the training necessary.”

Looking Ahead

Senate Bill 13 was previously introduced to the Maryland General Assembly last session, but did not pass. At the same time, a bill requiring judges in such cases to have higher training and requirements was passed.

“If you have judges required to have this training, then of course it’s only logical that you would have the child custody evaluators get the same training,” said Sen. Carozza. “We, as members of the Maryland General Assembly, we have an obligation to put this in statute.”

Senator Carozza says she and other lawmakers have been working on this bill for three years now. It was heard in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Tuesday.  Now, the bill heads to its second reading.