CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

 

              ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1514

 

 

                   Chapter 174, Laws of 1999

 

 

                        56th Legislature

                      1999 Regular Session

 

 

PARENTING PLANS--MODIFICATIONS TO RESIDENTIAL SCHEDULES

 

 

 

                    EFFECTIVE DATE:  7/25/99

Passed by the House April 19, 1999

  Yeas 97   Nays 0

 

 

             CLYDE BALLARD

Speaker of the House of Representatives

     

 

 

              FRANK CHOPP

Speaker of the House of Representatives

 

 

 

Passed by the Senate April 13, 1999

  Yeas 42   Nays 2

             CERTIFICATE

 

We, Dean R. Foster and Timothy A. Martin, Co-Chief Clerks of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1514  as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.

 

 

 

           DEAN R. FOSTER

                          Chief Clerk

 

 

          TIMOTHY A. MARTIN

                          Chief Clerk

               BRAD OWEN

President of the Senate

 

 

 

Approved May 5, 1999 Place Style On Codes above, and Style Off Codes below.           

                                FILED                

 

              May 5, 1999 - 3:52 p.m.

 

              GARY LOCKE

Governor of the State of Washington

                 Secretary of State

                 State of Washington


          _______________________________________________

 

               ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1514

          _______________________________________________

 

                     AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

 

             Passed Legislature - 1999 Regular Session

 

State of Washington      56th Legislature     1999 Regular Session

 

By House Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Representatives Kastama and Wolfe)

 

Read first time 03/02/1999.

  Changing provisions relating to modification of a parenting plan or custody order.        


    AN ACT Relating to modification of a parenting plan or custody decree; and amending RCW 26.09.260.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

    Sec. 1.  RCW 26.09.260 and 1991 c 367 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (4), (5), (7), and (9) of this section, the court shall not modify a prior custody decree or a parenting plan unless it finds, upon the basis of facts that have arisen since the prior decree or plan or that were unknown to the court at the time of the prior decree or plan, that a substantial change has occurred in the circumstances of the child or the nonmoving party and that the modification is in the best interest of the child and is necessary to serve the best interests of the child.

    (2) In applying these standards, the court shall retain the residential schedule established by the decree or parenting plan unless:

    (a) The parents agree to the modification;

    (b) The child has been integrated into the family of the petitioner with the consent of the other parent in substantial deviation from the parenting plan;

    (c) The child's present environment is detrimental to the child's physical, mental, or emotional health and the harm likely to be caused by a change of environment is outweighed by the advantage of a change to the child; or

    (d) The court has found the nonmoving parent in contempt of court at least twice within three years because the parent failed to comply with the residential time provisions in the court-ordered parenting plan, or the parent has been convicted of custodial interference in the first or second degree under RCW 9A.40.060 or 9A.40.070.

    (3) A conviction of custodial interference in the first or second degree under RCW 9A.40.060 or 9A.40.070 shall constitute a substantial change of circumstances for the purposes of this section.

    (4) The court may reduce or restrict contact between the nonprimary residential parent and a child if it finds that the reduction or restriction would serve and protect the best interests of the child using the criteria in RCW 26.09.191.

    (5) The court may order adjustments to the residential aspects of a parenting plan upon a showing of a substantial change in circumstances of either parent or of the child, and without consideration of the factors set forth in subsection (2) of this section, if the proposed modification is only a((:

    (a) Modification in the dispute resolution process; or

    (b) Minor modification in the residential schedule that:

    (i) Does not change the residence the child is scheduled to reside in the majority of the time; and

    (ii) Does not exceed twenty-four full days in a calendar year or five full days in a calendar month; or

    (iii) Is based on a change of residence or an involuntary change in work schedule by a parent which makes the residential schedule in the parenting plan impractical to follow)) minor modification in the residential schedule that does not change the residence the child is scheduled to reside in the majority of the time and:

    (a) Does not exceed twenty-four full days in a calendar year; or

    (b) Is based on a change of residence or an involuntary change in work schedule by a parent which makes the residential schedule in the parenting plan impractical to follow; or

    (c) Does not result in a schedule that exceeds ninety overnights per year in total, if the court finds that the decree of dissolution or parenting plan does not provide reasonable time with the nonprimary residential parent at the time the petition for modification is filed,  and further, the court finds that it is in the best interests of the child to increase residential time with the nonprimary residential parent in excess of the residential time period in (a) of this subsection.  However, any motion under this subsection (5)(c) is subject to the factors established in subsection (2) of this section if the party bringing the motion has previously been granted a modification under this same subsection within twenty-four months of the current motion.  Relief granted under this section shall not be the sole basis for adjusting or modifying child support.

    (6) A nonprimary residential parent whose residential time with the child is subject to limitations pursuant to RCW 26.09.191 (2) or (3) may not seek expansion of residential time under subsection (5)(c) of this section unless that parent demonstrates a substantial change in circumstances specifically related to the basis for the limitation.

    (7) If a nonprimary residential parent voluntarily fails to exercise residential time for an extended period, that is, one year or longer, the court upon proper motion may make adjustments to the parenting plan in keeping with the best interests of the minor child.

    (8) A nonprimary parent who is required by the existing parenting plan to complete evaluations, treatment, parenting, or other classes may not seek expansion of residential time under subsection (5)(c) of this section unless that parent has fully complied with such requirements.

    (9) The court may order adjustments to any of the nonresidential aspects of a parenting plan upon a showing of a substantial change of circumstances of either parent or of a child, and the adjustment is in the best interest of the child.  Adjustments ordered under this section may be made without consideration of the factors set forth in subsection (2) of this section.

    (((5))) (10) If the court finds that a motion to modify a prior decree or parenting plan has been brought in bad faith, the court shall assess the attorney's fees and court costs of the nonmoving parent against the moving party.


    Passed the House April 19, 1999.

    Passed the Senate April 13, 1999.

Approved by the Governor May 5, 1999.

    Filed in Office of Secretary of State May 5, 1999.