Whereas, the Jasper County Republican Party delegates, and many other Counties over the last decade, have passed resolutions in support of Equal Parenting.
Whereas, the State Republican Party delegates for the past decade, at the State Convention, reaffirmed support for Equal Parenting legislation by passing Equal Parenting Platform Planks (the current one being Plank 172 of the Texas GOP 2022 platform) which reads:
Equal Parenting: We support legislation providing for equal and consistent parenting (possession and access) for every child, when both parents are fit, willing, and able, as it is in the best interest of the child.
Whereas, with divorce rates and unmarried pregnancy rates on the rise, a large percentage of children are growing up in broken homes, and particularly without a father. Current legislation does not have an equal parenting starting point option for judges to check off in child custody cases, making it difficult for children to see both of their parents equally when both parents are fit, willing, and able. This has greatly harmed children as the majority of most societal ills and issues involving children come from children without equally involved fathers. Fatherless children make up the majority of all teen crime, teen drug use, teen suicides, and teen pregnancies.
Whereas, for the past decade, many Texas Republican State Representatives have filed or co-authored Equal Parenting bills which have garnered massive bipartisan support, including 27 bi-partisan co-authors this past legislative session.
Whereas, for the past decade, this popular and much needed Equal Parenting legislation has been killed, without a floor vote, by the Texas House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Democrat Committee Chair.
Whereas, many other states are ahead of Texas and have already passed Equal Parenting legislation, including Florida and Arkansas and Missouri.
Now Therefore Be it Resolved, the Jasper County Republican Party requests that the State Convention add Plank 172 Passing Equal Parenting laws to the list Legislative Priorities for the State Delegates to vote on at the Texas 2024 GOP State Convention, which will help to push the Texas State Republican Leaders to finally pass Equal Parenting Legislation or at least give it a timely vote out of committee to then get a fair floor vote.
County Convention Legislative Priority Request Passed by the Jasper County Texas Republican Party County Convention on 3/23/2024.