Williams Legislation to Protect Custody Rights of Deployed Military Parents Passes Senate Unanimously

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Senate passed legislation yesterday by Rep. Craig Williams (R-Delaware/Chester) to safeguard the custody and visitation rights of deployed military parents. House Bill 414, known as the Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act, passed the Senate unanimously (48-0) and now moves to the Governor's desk for his signature. House Bill 414 prevents permanent custody changes during a parent's deployment and allows for delegated visitation rights. It also encourages continued communication between parents and children through modern means, such as video calls, when in-person time is not possible. "This is an important moment for the protection of parental rights for our deployed military members. No longer will child custody and visitation be detrimentally impacted by military deployment in our Commonwealth." Sen. Lisa Baker sponsored similar protections under Act 32 of 2012, which made Pennsylvania one of the first states to address custody rights for deployed service members. The new legislation reflects updated guidance from the Uniform Law Commission and would make Pennsylvania the 18th state to adopt the uniform standard. The legislation creates a clear and fair process for parents who deploy on military orders. It allows them to make temporary custody arrangements before deployment and reinstates their prior custody order once they return home. Courts may issue temporary orders that permit another family member with a close relationship to the child to provide care during deployment. The measure also directs courts not to treat a parent's military service as a negative factor in custody decisions and authorizes electronic participation in hearings when a parent's duties prevent appearing in person. "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 Pennsylvania Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers support the legislation, along with the Uniform Law Commission, which developed the national standard. "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," Williams said. "This is an important step forward for Pennsylvania's military families, and I am grateful to every member of the General Assembly who cast their vote for this important legislation." Williams is a retired Marine Corps Colonel, having served nearly 30 years in the service. He flew 56 combat missions in the F/A-18D during Desert Storm and was decorated for Valor in combat. After completing law school on active duty and becoming a judge advocate (military attorney), he served as the chief prosecutor for Camp Pendleton, CA; the Director of the Joint Legal Assistance Center at Camp Pendleton, CA; and Deputy Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In his final tour, Williams led all prosecutors in the Marine Corps Reserves. Representative Craig Williams 160th Legislative District Pennsylvania House of Representatives Media Contact: Will Patterson 267-688-2590 [email protected] RepCraigWilliams.com / Facebook.com/RepCraigWilliams

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