HB 0715 2003
   
1 CHAMBER ACTION
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6          The Committee on Health Care recommends the following:
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8          Committee Substitute
9          Remove the entire bill and insert:
10 A bill to be entitled
11          An act relating to child custody evaluations; providing a
12    presumption of good faith for the actions of a court-
13    appointed psychologist who conducts a child custody
14    evaluation; prohibiting anonymous complaints; providing
15    prerequisites to a parent bringing a legal action against
16    the psychologist; providing for the award of reasonable
17    attorney's fees and reasonable court costs; providing an
18    effective date.
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20          Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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22          Section 1. Child custody evaluations; presumption of
23    psychologist's good faith; prerequisite to parent filing suit;
24    award of fees and costs; reimbursement.--
25          (1) A psychologist who has been appointed by the court to
26    conduct a child custody evaluation in a judicial proceeding is
27    presumed to be acting in good faith if the evaluation has been
28    conducted pursuant to standards that a reasonable psychologist
29    would have used as recommended by the American Psychological
30    Association's guidelines for child custody evaluation in divorce
31    proceedings.
32          (2) An administrative complaint against a court-appointed
33    psychologist which relates to a child custody evaluation
34    conducted by the psychologist may not be filed anonymously. The
35    individual who files such an administrative complaint must
36    include in the complaint his or her name, address, and telephone
37    number.
38          (3) A parent who wishes to file a legal action against a
39    court-appointed psychologist who has acted in good faith in
40    conducting a child custody evaluation must petition the judge
41    who presided over the child custody proceeding to appoint
42    another psychologist. Upon the parent showing good cause, the
43    court shall appoint another psychologist, and the parent is
44    responsible for all court costs and attorney's fees associated
45    with making such an appointment.
46          (4) If a legal action, whether it be a civil action, a
47    criminal action, or an administrative proceeding, is filed
48    against a court-appointed psychologist in a child custody
49    proceeding, the claimant is responsible for all reasonable costs
50    and reasonable attorney's fees associated with the action for
51    both parties if the psychologist is held not liable. If the
52    psychologist is held liable in civil court, the psychologist
53    must pay all reasonable costs and reasonable attorney's fees for
54    the claimant.
55          Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.