SF5156

Purpose

The bill creates a Parenting Time Enforcement Task Force to study how parenting time is enforced and to develop recommendations to improve enforcement of court-ordered parenting time, while keeping children safe. It focuses on issues under Minnesota law governing parenting time and custody interference and aims to strengthen enforcement tools without compromising child safety.

Establishment, Membership, and Administration

• A new Parenting Time Enforcement Task Force is established to study and make recommendations.
• Members include:
  • Two members of the House (one chosen by the speaker, one by the minority leader)
  • Two members of the Senate (one chosen by the majority leader, one by the minority leader)
  • The chief justice or the chief justice’s designee with family court experience
  • One district court judge who handles family court matters
  • One county attorney
  • One sheriff or municipal law enforcement representative
  • One representative from the Department of Human Services with child protection expertise
  • One representative from the Board of Public Defense with family or criminal law experience
  • Two attorneys who represent parents in custody or parenting time cases (one for custodial parents, one for noncustodial parents)
  • One guardian ad litem or child advocacy representative
  • One mental health professional with expertise in child and family dynamics
  • Two parents with lived experience in parenting time denial or custody interference disputes
• Appointments must be made by August 1, 2026.
• Members serve without pay but may be reimbursed for expenses.
• The Legislative Coordinating Commission provides administrative and meeting support.
• The task force must follow applicable Minnesota open-meeting and ethics rules and elect a chair and vice-chair from among its legislative members.

Duties and Focus of Work

The task force will: - Evaluate how well current remedies work for parenting time denial and custody interference under Minnesota law (specifically sections 518.175 and 609.26). - Examine how often and in what ways parenting time violations occur and whether enforcement mechanisms are adequate. - Review civil and criminal enforcement tools, including contempt proceedings and custodial interference statutes. - Assess how parenting time disputes affect child safety and family wellbeing, including domestic violence considerations. - Identify barriers that delay or hinder effective enforcement. - Review best practices from other states on parenting time enforcement and custody interference remedies. - Develop recommendations for legislative or judicial action to improve enforcement of parenting time orders while protecting the best interests and safety of children.

Administration and Process

• The task force will be governed by relevant state rules and may operate under established statutory provisions (chapters 13 and 13D).
• It will elect a chair and a vice-chair from among its legislative members.

Reporting and Timeline

• By January 15, 2027, the task force must submit a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over family law and public safety.
• The report should include findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation.

Expiration and Funding

• The task force expires on June 30, 2027.
• A general-fund appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided to the Legislative Coordinating Commission to support the task force.

Significance and Potential Impact

• This bill does not immediately change how parenting time is enforced, but it creates a structured review process to propose improvements.
• It emphasizes balancing enforcement efficiency with child safety, including considerations related to domestic violence.

Relevant Terms

Parenting Time Enforcement Task Force, parenting time, custody interference, enforcement remedies, Minnesota Statutes chapters 518 and 609, 518.175, 609.26, contempt proceedings, custodial interference statutes, child safety, family wellbeing, domestic violence considerations, civil enforcement tools, criminal enforcement tools, barriers to timely enforcement, best practices from other states, legislative or judicial action, guardian ad litem, child advocacy, Department of Human Services, Board of Public Defense, county attorney, law enforcement, mental health professional, Legislative Coordinating Commission, appropriation, expire, appointment deadline August 1, 2026, report January 15, 2027.