Military parent protections headed to Shapiro's desk

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(The Center Square) - The Pennsylvania General Assembly demonstrated this week that they are capable of coming together from time to time.

A bill originating in the House with Rep. Craig Williams, R-Chadds Ford, to protect custody rights for active duty military while on deployment is set to head to the governor’s desk.

“The unanimous support for this bill in the House and in the Senate reflects a shared commitment to fairness and respect for those who serve,” said Williams.

The law ensures that permanent changes to custody agreements can’t be made while a parent is on deployment. During deployment, it allows families to enter into temporary custody agreements. For active duty service members, this includes promoting video and phone calls when possible.

“As a retired Marine Corps Colonel, I saw firsthand how deployments can complicate custody arrangements for service members and their families,” Williams said. “I also saw how ill-intended family law litigants used the mere fact of deployment against military parents. This uniform law is in place in several states and protects those parents from being penalized for serving their country.”

The temporary agreements allow for other loved ones to step into custodial roles. The legislation would also require courts to allow military parents to attend proceedings remotely and direct judges not to consider military service against a parent.

“This is an important moment for the protection of parental rights for our deployed military members," said Williams. "No longer will child custody and visitation be detrimentally impacted by military deployment in our Commonwealth.”

The measure brings Pennsylvania into accord with 18 other states. The legislation is the product of the Uniform Law Commission which works to standardize issues in order to make legal proceedings smoother from state to state, something that is of particular importance in family law where parties may change residence.