Newsletters::1998 December
From R-KIDS of MN and GPF
Contents |
Parental Cooperation Task Force
The effort to get a parenting plan bill last year resulted in the formation of a Minnesota Supreme Court Task force, known as the "Parental Cooperation Task Force". This task force is currently meeting (it started Sept. 3rd). Its purpose is to produce a report of recommendations (changes to current law) to the Legislature, due on January 15, 2000. The issues they are considering are the same ones that came to the fore in the parenting plan bill effort of last year. We urge all interested parties to attend these meetings.
You may contact Tori Jo Wible, Staff Attorney, Minnesota Supreme Court, at 651-297-7587, and request a copy of the current proceedings (handouts), as well as all proceedings to date. This will include meeting schedules and rosters etc.
The meetings are held from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in Room 230 of the Minnesota Judicial Center located at 25 Constitution Avenue, St. Paul. Thus, the meeting dates are as follows:
1/14/99, 2/11/99, 3/11/99, 4/8/99, 5/13/99, 6/10/99, 7/8/99, 8/12/99, 9/9/99, 10/14/99, 11/11/99, 12/9/99.
Robert Carrillo of R-KIDS is a member of the task force. The complete roster is available at the R-KIDS website.
Anoka County
If you live in ANOKA county, and you have been deprived of parental rights and/or otherwise discriminated against in regards to your children, please call Mr. Bernie Countryman, 612-780-8775 (home), or 612-785-9346 (home fax). Mr. Countryman has a bill to modify 609.26 with house and senate authors and subcommittee approval to force gender equity in the application of this criminal statute regarding denial of parental rights. He is also pursuing action in ANOKA county. What he needs now is testimony. If this is you, please call, please help.
Upcoming Legislation
There will be a bill, authored by Sen. Leo Foley, to change the ALJ system. It would basically put the current system into the judicial branch rather than the executive branch. In other words, the child support judges would work for district court judges, rather than a political branch of government. What will happen regarding this bill is likely to be influenced by the Supreme Court's decision in the case finding the administrative law system unconstitutional.
There is another bill regarding a new uniform version of the interstate child custody jurisdiction act. This is expected to pass without much opposition.
R-KIDS has not had an opportunity to review and take a position on any of these bills as of this time.
Upcoming Meetings
R-KIDS hold its monthly meetings for all members, on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Brookdale library, at Shingle Creek Drive off Highway 94 in Brooklyn Center. Future meeting dates are January 21, February 18, and March 18. Topics and speakers will be announced.
Board of Directors meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m., at Land O Lakes in Shoreview.
REPORT FINDS THAT FREQUENT MOVES HAMPER CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT.
A report by the Kids Mobility Project, dated March 1998, found that children who move frequently did worse in school then those who had more stability. Part of this is due to the stress related to frequent moves, as well as frequent absences from school.
It is hoped that this report might be persuasive to judges, or the legislature, in trying to reverse or overcome the current presumptions in the law, which favor moves out of state. The current law is based upon the fallacy that allowing a child to move with the custodial parent will result in greater stability. This disregards the facts that uprooting a child from the other parent, grandparents, extended family, friends, neighborhoods, and a routine, can have a disastrous effect upon a child's emotional well being.
Copies of this report can be obtained by calling (612) 375-9644.
KEEP WATCHING FOR MORE NEWS
This is a short newsletter; we had been hoping to have more news on pending legislation, the impact Jesse Ventura might have upon R-KIDS' cause, and the MN Supreme Court decision in the case finding the ALJ system unconstitutional. If you have any news on the first two items, contact newsletter editor Tim Theisen at 612-421-0965, or ttheisen@bitstream.net. We usually don't do a newsletter during the legislative session (January-May), so the best way to stay updated is to attend monthly meetings, check in at the R-KIDS website, or call the hotline. Those of you on our e-mailing list may also get occasional electronic bulletins.
ABOUT R-KIDS OF MINNESOTA
- R-KIDS is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating law makers, family law professionals and the public with regard to family law and social services and their effects on children, families, and the consequences to the taxpayer.
- Our main concern is for our community of children of divorced, separated, or unwed families. We believe that children need, want and deserve the love, support and involvement of both parents regardless of marital status.
- Founded in 1985, our membership is comprised of both moms and dads, custodial and non-custodial parents, grandparents, stepparents, and professionals such as social workers, doctors, attorneys, and family law practitioners.
- It is the objective of R-KIDS to develop equitable family law legislation in an effort to improve the lives of all Minnesota children.
"ALL CHILDREN NEED BOTH PARENTS AND ALL GRANDPARENTS IN THEIR LIVES"
- Unless those affected by the current family law system voice an opinion and demand positive change, we and our children will continue to suffer. This change will not occur without your help! Legislators and family law professionals need to hear from; parents, grandparents, and constituents. Until they do, things will not change.
R-KIDS CONCERNS AND ISSUES
- The needs of children to have frequent and meaningful contact with both parents.
- The lack of effective consequences for denied visitation or parental interference.
- Consideration of the financial and emotional responsibility of both parents to provide for their children equally.
- Dissemination of information to the public about current family law issues and the long term consequences for our children, families and the tax payer.
- The harmful impact of out-of-state or long distance relocation on the parent- child relationship.
- Fair and equitable sharing of child support responsibilities which takes into consideration the financial needs of children in second families, as well.
- The negative impact of the adversarial court system and social services upon divorcing families with children.
- Removal of the myth perpetuated in our judicial and family law professional systems that only mothers are nurturing and fathers are financial providers.
- Accountability for the use of child support.
- The impact of the no-fault divorce system on families with children and the need for effective education for parents considering marriage, separation, or divorce.
R-KIDS website is http://www.rkids.org
Do you want to express your viewpoint or share your story in the newsletter? E-mail to ttheisen@bitstream.net, or mail to Tim Theisen, R-KIDS Newsletter Editor, 229 Jackson Street, Suite 105, , Anoka MN 55303. We reserve the right to edit. We will use your name unless asked not to do so. Obviously, viewpoints expressed by readers do not necessarily reflect the position of R-KIDS.
Give to RKIDS Charitable Fund
R-KIDS Charitable fund is a tax exempt, 501(c )(3) foundation. The proceeds WILL NOT BE USED FOR LOBBYING. The fund currently needs money for various charitable activities of benefit to children of divorce. Send your tax deductible donation of $25, $50, or $100 today! Make checks payable to R-KIDS Charitable Fund. Mail to R-KIDS PO Box 24658, Mpls, MN 55424.
This newsletter is distributed via US mail and e-mail. If you are getting it via regular mail, but you have an e-mail address, let us know your e-mail address. Send a note to Editor Tim Theisen, ttheisen@bitstream.net . Not only will you get the newsletter a couple weeks sooner, but you’ll also get certain bulletins between newsletters, and you’ll save us postage costs as well! Also, the e-mail version of the newsletter sometimes has extra articles that didn’t make the editor’s final cut for the print version.
The R-KIDS newsletter does not purport to give legal advice. The information contained herein is general in nature; individual circumstances will always vary.
Feel free to disseminate this newsletter. We want to spread our message!
