UPDATE: November 18, 2010

This article has been updated to reflect the fact that the overall progress of the proposed bill, as initially submitted to the 128th General Assembly earlier this year, was stalled mostly due to the introduction of House Bill 519 (Ohio Casinos).  Despite this temporary delay, an exact copy will be resubmitted to the 129th General Assembly on January 1, 2010, (Midnight) by email.  Further, some of the freshman class of this next General Assembly, both in the House and the Senate, have already been contacted and given a copy of the proposal in person.  It is noteworthy to mention that support from newly elected officials and some existing members of the General Assembly has already been obtained for the plight of unmarried fathers in Ohio.  The ideals within the proposed language has been praised by many at this level, and it is reasonable to believe that appropriate results can be realized this time around.

Nonetheless, this is the time for those who support change within the Domestic Court System in Ohio to give serious consideration to this bill proposal.  If you are within reach of a telephone, as most people are, then, pick it up and call your area representative in the Ohio House and Senate.  To reach them, simply click here http://www.legislature.state.oh.us .  Let them know that you approve of these changes and insist on their passage to give unmarried families within the State of Ohio a chance to live without costly court battles, attorney's fees and fighting amongst the parents.  Inherently, we give these rights to married couples, and should be doing so for everyone.  Let us not make the legal profession rich; rather, our children should be rich with the substantial time of both of their parents!

Read on for the specifics on the bill, as originally submitted months earlier:

February 17, 2010

An equal parenting bill proposal has now been sent to the entire 128th General Assembly of the State of Ohio, in regards to unmarried parents.  Over months of time, I have been in contact with Senate and House of Representatives to gain support for substantial changes of the Ohio Revised Code, specifically modifications, and in come cases, repeal of current law.  Here is a brief explanation of some things that  the twenty three page proposal and supporting documents would enact:

• Establishment of paternity and shared parenting

  1. Acknowledgment of paternity affidavit revised.   Unmarried fathers have shared parenting with the mother upon signing this document and the new Ohio Standard Shared Parenting for Unmarried Parents form, must accompany the affidavit to become final and ultimately enforceable;
  2. Genetic (DNA) Testing done within 48 hours of the child's birth, upon the request of either parent.  Such testing is billable to an insurance company as a birthing expense, if medical coverage is available to the parents.  Once testing proves paternity, the mother and father automatically have shared parenting as in example one.  Ohio Standard Shared Parenting for Unmarried Parents form must be completed;
  3. Once genetic testing is requested by either parent, the child is under an "administrative hold" and will not be released from the hospital until the results of the testing are completed and issued to the parent(s);
  4. If either parent refuses the genetic testing, they shall become found guilty of the interference of paternity, a misdemeanor of the first degree, unless the parent shows good cause for such refusal.
  5. If paternity can not be established, the mother shall become the sole residential parent by default.

• Child support

  1. The Ohio Standard Shared Parenting for Unmarried Parents form sets child support matters over to the local county court and neither party shall pay support to the other, until ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction;
  2. The Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) will no longer issue administrative orders for support.  All such orders are to be issued by a magistrate or judge of a court.  All other duties of (CSEA) would remain the same;
     The Child Support Enforcement Agency will additionally file the Ohio Standard Shared Parenting for Unmarried Parents  form with the local county court, which the clerk will not charge (CSEA) a filing fee and assign a case number between the parents.  Upon receipt of the parenting form, the court shall adopt the document as terms of shared parenting between the parents without a scheduled hearing.

• Unmarried parents - parenting time

  1. The parents will each have substantial time with the child.  All counties will adhere to a new state standard schedule, as a minimum and standard order allowable, except where clear and convincing evidence shows that it would not be in the child's best interest.  This standard order includes overnight time for each parent from birth;
  2. The state standard or minimum time will be applied without ratification or approval of a court , from the time the child leaves the hospital at birth, just as married fathers are treated.

  As you can see, with some of the changes proposed in this document, unmarried fathers would finally be treated fairly and more substantially involved in their children's lives from birth.

  If you would lke to see these changes, or legislation having the same meanings as  what you see here, your help is needed.  Contact the Senators and Representatives of the House by regular mail.  Let them know that you favor equality amongst parents.  Stand up and be counted!

  The website to obtain the contact information for the members of the 128th General Assembly can be found by clicking the link showing "Ohio General Assembly" on the left side menu.  Once there, you can enter your zipcode to reach the person who represents you.