Dear Senator Lees,

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for meeting with us the other day.  You were generous with your time and we feel you are sympathetic to our issues and cause.

Since you are a key member of the committee reviewing parenting and family bills like Senate Bill 813, An Act Relative to Strengthening Families through Shared Parenting, your support is an essential element to its success.  As you are aware, S-813 is sponsored by Senator Stephen Brewer, and Representatives Reed Hillman and Mark Carron.

Additionally, House Bill 2546 sponsored by Representative Scott Brown -- similar to S813 but more concise in its language -- if passed will create a presumption in the law for joint physical custody of children, except in cases of unfitness of a parent.   Also, either parent may relinquish his/her right to custody at any time thereby being subject to the state’s Child Support Guideline.

Also, thank you for offering to speak with the Senator Creedon, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, regarding this legislation.  Please let us know what the committee thinks we need to do with the bills to get them out of study and back into the process for consideration.  Also, if there were any way your office could get us a current copy of S-813 and H-2546 with the signatures of legislators who have signed on in support of these bills, it would be appreciated.

And, per your request, we will arrange to host you at one of our shared parenting forums the coalition is organizing throughout the region.  We had “standing room only” success at the forum with Senator Andrea Nuciforo at the Berkshire Medical Center two weeks ago.  The next events in March (Amherst) and April (Holyoke) will host respectively, Senators Stanley Rosenberg and Michael Knapik.  We hope to host a forum for you in East Longmeadow in May or June. 

Lastly, on behalf of divorced and unwed fathers across the Commonwealth, we appreciate your time and effort, and thank you graciously in advance for anything you can do for those of us who are fit and loving parents, and are “exceptionally motivated” (a term repeatedly used by Dr. Warren Farrell, author of the book, Father and Child Reunion: How to Bring the Dads We Need to the Children We Love) to have fair access and responsibilities to our children.

Please feel free to contact us at 1-413-295-DADS if you additional questions or concerns.
 

Brian Candido            Mike Franco
Hampden Co-Chair                 State Co-Chair
Granby, Mass.                        Holyoke, Mass.