Lawmakers introduce bill to establish equal shared parenting in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio lawmakers have introduced legislation that, if passed, would establish equal shared parenting for children of separated parents.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton) and Rep. Rodney Creech (R-West Alexandria), would establish a presumption that "equal shared parenting is in the best interest of a child, unless a court determines that such an arrangement would be detrimental to the child."

In Ohio, mothers are often awarded sole custody of a child, but lawmakers say fathers are just as important and that having both parents equally involved in a child's life is crucial for their success.

"I always have questioned why we did things the way we did. Why is it that we always award custody or full custody to the mother and not have the father involved?" West said. "I've seen the neighborhoods that have fathers that are in children's lives and the mothers and children's lives. And collectively, you had a stronger community as a result of that."