Opinion ID: 2570341
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Amended Section 14-10-129

Text: In response to dissatisfaction with the Francis test, the General Assembly amended section 14-10-129, effective September 1, 2001, to set forth a new procedure for determining whether modification of a parenting time order due to a majority time parent's relocation is in a child's best interests. See ch. 222, sec. 1, § 14-10-129, 2001 Colo. Sess. Laws 761, 761-763; see also Audio Tape: Hearing on S.B. 01-029 Before the Senate Judiciary Comm., 63d Gen. Assem., 1st Reg. Sess. (Colo. Feb. 12, 2001)(on file with Colorado State Archives)(hereinafter Feb. 12 Hearing)(statements of Senator Gordon, Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee; Beth Henson, family law attorney; Dr. Bill Austin, licensed Colorado psychologist in consultation with Colorado Interdisciplinary Committee on Children and Family; and Frances Fontana, President, Colorado State Interdisciplinary Committee). The new legislative scheme retained the language set forth in subsection 14-10-129(2), which provides that: the court shall not modify a prior order concerning parenting time that substantially changes the parenting time as well as changes the party with whom the child resides a majority of the time unless it finds ... that a change has occurred in the circumstances of the child or the party with whom the child resides the majority of the time .... In addition, the General Assembly retained the language in subsection 14-10-129(2) which requires that any modification be in the best interests of the child. The General Assembly also chose to preserve the language of subsection 14-10-129(2) which provides that the court shall retain the parenting time schedule established in the prior decree unless there is an agreement between the parties to modify, [6] there is consent to allow the child to be integrated into the family of the moving party, [7] or the child's present environment is dangerous. [8] The General Assembly, however, elected to add a fourth situation in which a modification of an existing parenting time schedule is permitted, namely when a majority time parent intends to relocate with the child to a different geographical area. [9] § 14-10-129(2)(c). Thus, in the language of the statute, if a majority time parent is intending to relocate with the child, a change has occurred in the circumstances of the child or the party with whom the child resides the majority of the time sufficient to cause the court to consider modifying a prior order concerning parenting time. § 14-10-129(2). However, before a court may allow a majority time parent to relocate with the child, the new statutory language in subsection 14-10-129(2)(c) dictates that the court shall consider twenty-one relevant factors, including eleven factors listed in subsection 14-10-124(1.5)(a), C.R.S. (2004), [10] and nine [11] entirely new factors specifically tailored to modification proceedings arising out of a majority time parent's desire to relocate. § 14-10-129(2)(c)(I)-(IX). [12]