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Policies to support military families subject to court-ordered child custody arrangements

Division A · Title V: MILITARY PERSONNEL POLICY · Subtitle H: Family Programs, Child Care, and Dependent Education

Plain-language summaryAI

Each military service must have a policy that allows service members involved in court-ordered child custody arrangements to request a temporary exemption from permanent relocation orders for up to two years to stay near their child. The policy may also include other accommodations to support family stability. Within one year, each service must report to Congress on their policy, how they plan to implement it, and how it supports family stability.

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Section Text · Sec. 576.
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(a) Policies required

Beginning not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, each Secretary concerned shall maintain a policy pursuant to which a member of an Armed Force under the jurisdiction of the Secretary who is a party to a court-ordered child custody arrangement may, at the discretion of the Secretary, receive—

(1)

an exemption from orders for a permanent change of station or similar orders for a period of up to 24 months to enable that member to remain in geographic proximity to their child; and

(2)

such other accommodations as the Secretary determines appropriate to promote family stability.

(b) Report to Congress

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, each Secretary concerned shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the policy required under subsection (a). The report shall include—

(1)

a summary of the policy;

(2)

the Secretary’s plan for implementation of the policy; and

(3)

an explanation of how policy meets the requirements of subsection (a) and otherwise promotes family stability among members of the Armed Forces.

(c) Secretary concerned defined

In this section, the term Secretary concerned has the meaning given that term in section 101(a) of title 10, United States Code.