OFFICIAL COMMENT

This Act complements, but does not limit, contradict, or supercede the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, 9 U.L.A. Part I 657 (1999), or the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, 9 U.L.A. Part I 115 (1988). A court must have jurisdiction sufficient to make an initial child-custody determination, a modification, or temporary emergency jurisdiction to issue prevention measures under this Act.

The Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act prioritizes the child’s home state as the primary jurisdictional basis; prohibits a court in one state from exercising jurisdiction if a valid custody proceeding is already pending in another state; and requires that states give full faith and credit to sister state decrees made in accordance with its principles. The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act follows the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act.

A court has temporary emergency jurisdiction under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act only if the child has been abandoned or it is necessary in an emergency to protect the child because the child, or a sibling or parent of the child, is subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse. This Act equates a credible risk of abduction with threatened mistreatment or abuse for emergency jurisdiction purposes.

If a state would be able to exercise emergency jurisdiction under Section 204 the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act [section 14-13-204, C.R.S.], it can do so even if another court has issued a child-custody determination and has continuing exclusive jurisdiction. The reference to Section 204 brings in all of its provisions that include communication, length of time of temporary orders, and the like.

Under Section 208 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act [section 14-13-208, C.R.S.], if a court has jurisdiction because a person seeking to invoke its jurisdiction has engaged in unjustifiable conduct, the court shall decline to exercise its jurisdiction. However, as the comment to Section 208 explains, domestic violence victims should not be charged with unjustifiable conduct for conduct that occurred in the process of fleeing domestic violence. Domestic violence also shall be considered in a court’s inconvenient forum analysis under Section 207(b)(1) of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act [section 14-13-207(2)(a), C.R.S.].