Senate Approves Bill to Protect Custody Rights of Deployed Military Parents

The full Senate has given its support to a bill aimed at protecting the custody rights of deployed military parents. Sen. Randy Bass is the author of Senate Bill 158 which was approved unanimously by the Senate on Monday. The measure would postpone child custody proceedings until after a parent serving in the military had returned from deployment.

"The people who serve our country do so at tremendous sacrifice to themselves and to their families,” said Bass, D-Lawton. “They need our support, and they need laws that are supportive of them as well.”

Federal law currently gives soldiers the right to postpone custody hearings while they’re deployed. Bass said passing a similar statute at the state level will strengthen that protection.

“We had a case recently where a non-custodial parent tried to get custody while her former husband was deployed. Fortunately, the court decided to postpone the hearing, but the situation could possibly occur again in the future,” Bass said. “SB 158 will keep that from happening.”

The measure now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

“I am hopeful that the House will quickly act to join the Senate in approving this legislation and send it to Governor Henry for his signature,” Bass said. “Our military men and women risk their lives defending our nation. They shouldn’t have to risk their rights as parents.”