HB 1820 -- Appointment of a Parenting Coordinator

Sponsor:  Harris

This bill authorizes a court to appoint a parenting coordinator
as a neutral third party to assist in the resolution of disputes
between parents regarding the implementation of a court-ordered
parenting plan.  The parenting coordinator must have the
appropriate training and qualifications acceptable to the court
and must be a licensed mental health professional or a licensed
attorney and be qualified under the Missouri Supreme Court rules
governing family mediation.  The coordinator will serve for a
specified period of time but no longer than two years and will
have the authority to resolve disputes between the parents
regarding the implementation or clarification of existing orders
concerning the minor or dependent children including, but not
limited to, disputes over parenting time and specific parental
decisions.  The parenting coordinator is prohibited from making
any modification to a court order, judgment, or decree except for
temporary departures from a parenting plan.  The court may order
fees to be paid by the parties but will not appoint a coordinator
if it finds that the parties do not have the means to pay the
fees.  A parenting coordinator will be immune from liability in
any claim by the parties or children subject to the order for
parenting coordination for an injury that arises out of a
decision of the parenting coordinator during the performance of
his or her duties unless the act or omission causing the injury
was willful and wanton.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:12 pm