Federal Legislative Initiatives

Thorne supports federal legislation to protect and preserve family relationships from unwarranted intrusion by state actors.  To this end, he strongly supports the Family Preservation and Reconciliation Act (FPRA) in the United States Congress.  On 16 August 2007, Thorne expressed his strong support for the FPRA as an invited speaker at a press conference at The National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

On 19 August 2007 Thorne was an invited speaker at the Family Preservation Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. at the base of the Lincoln Memorial.  Thorne called for federal legislation to address the Constitutional crisis in America’s family courts and called on the President, the U.S. Congress, and the state and federal courts to support the Family Preservation and Reconciliation Act.  DVDs of Thorne’s speech at the Lincoln Memorial are available upon request.

State Legislative Initiatives

The AFJP is active in various legislative initiatives to improve family law at the state level.  As opportunities present themselves, Thorne presents testimony on family law reform issues to various state legislatures.  Some examples of Thorne’s work in this area are as follows.

In fall 2006, a select committee of Georgia legislators conducted a series of three hearings to consider public input on shared parenting.  Over a period of months, Thorne attended each of the hearings, and on 26 October 2006 he testified before the Study Committee on Shared Parenting of the Georgia House.

In winter 2006, the Michigan legislature considered shared parenting.  On 6 December 2006 Thorne’s testimony on Michigan’s shared parenting bill, H.B. 5267 (Mortimer), was presented to the Michigan House.

In spring 2008, the West Virginia legislature considered a joint parenting act introduced in the West Virginia House at the request of Men and Women Against Discrimination.  On 14 January 2008 Thorne attended a luncheon with legislators and viewed excerpts from the documentary film: “Support: System Down” at the West Virginia Cultural Center State Theater.  To support H.B 4042 Thorne appeared on a panel of experts available to answer questions from the legislators.

In winter 2008, Thorne consulted about the Constitutional imperatives for “peer” or shared parenting with a member of a study committee of the Minnesota House of Representatives working on joint custody.

In the spring of 2010, the Tennessee General Assembly considered an equal parenting bill, H.B. 2916 and S.B. 2881.  On 23 February 2010 Thorne gave testimony on H.B. 2916 before the Family Justice Subcommittee of the House Children and Family Affairs Committee, and then attended hearings on the bill through March and into April 2010.  The next hearing on H.B. 2916 is before the Children and Family Affairs Committee on 6 April 2010.