Bill would limit who can testify as an expert on abuse claims in Arizona parenting time cases

A new section would allow expert testimony on alleged domestic violence or abuse only from experts who show expertise and clinical experience with victims. It covers parenting time proceedings in which a parent is alleged to have committed domestic violence or abuse. Experience gained only from serving as a court appointee in a parenting time or related case does not count. The expert's demonstrated expertise may not be only forensic, meaning work done under a court order or for use in litigation. The rule does not apply to a law enforcement officer with experience and training in recognizing domestic violence or abuse.

The section limits the psychological tools experts may use and bars certain lie-detection evidence. It covers expert witnesses in these parenting time cases and the courts hearing them. Tests and concepts must have been empirically established and be generally accepted as valid and reliable for the issue being evaluated. The court may not allow evidence relating to polygraph examinations, voice-stress analysis, or other psychological measures of that kind.