Interviewer: Senator, since you have proposed a bill that will dramatically impact how our family courts here in Kentucky function, I assume you have personally observed your local family court to make sure you understand the repercussions of your bill?
Sen. Tapp: Naw, naw, I never been into family court.
Interviewer: Senator, I'm sure you're aware that every week across this state, countless abused and neglected children are removed from the care of abusive parents. I'm sure you're also aware that most of these children are placed in what's called a "relative placement," which is someone like a grandmother, aunt, uncle or cousin who is an appropriate care giver. The benefit is multi-faceted: a traumatized child can stay with a family member to whom they are already bonded, rather than being placed with strangers in foster care. This also saves the state a lot of money compared to foster care.
Now, much of the time grandma, aunt, or uncle has a live-in boyfriend/girlfriend. In family court jargon, this person is called a "paramour." As long as the "paramour" is not found to be inappropriate, the court is thrilled that an abused child has a safe place to stay and could not care less about a marriage certificate. Is it really your intent to disqualify all of these relative placements because grandma happens to have chosen not to get a marriage certificate?
Sen. Tapp: Yes. I think a child should be in a home with a stable relationship.
Interviewer: Senator, do you really believe that a marriage certificate is the indicator of a stable relationship? Most of the parents who are dragged into court for abusing their children or beating each other up are married. My observation from ten years in family court is a marriage certificate has nothing to do with stability.
Sen. Tapp: Well, I believe anyone raising children should be married. It means the relationship is stable.
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