§571-46.4 Child custody evaluators; qualification; registry; complaints. (a) A person may be appointed as a child custody evaluator for purposes of section 571-46 if the person is actively licensed as a:

(1) Physician under chapter 453 and is a board certified psychiatrist or has completed a residency in psychiatry;

(2) Psychologist under chapter 465;

(3) Marriage and family therapist under chapter 451J; or

(4) Clinical social worker under section 467E-7(3).

(b) A person may be appointed as a child custody evaluator in the absence of a license under subsection (a) if:

(1) The individual has obtained education and training that meet nationally recognized competencies and standards of practice in child custody evaluation; provided that there are no child custody evaluators enumerated under subsection (a) who are willing and available, within a reasonable period of time, to perform child custody evaluations; or

(2) The parties stipulate to a person who does not qualify as a child custody evaluator under subsection (a) and the court approves that person as a fact-finding investigator to the court.

(c) The judiciary shall maintain on its website a publicly accessible registry of child custody evaluators who are qualified pursuant to this section. Professionals who are willing and available to perform child custody evaluations shall be responsible for providing the judiciary with relevant information, including contact information, evidence of qualifications, and fees.

(d) The judiciary shall establish a referral process to allow parties to file a complaint with the judiciary regarding a court-appointed child custody evaluator. Upon notification by a party of the party's intent to file a complaint against a child custody evaluator appointed under subsection (a), the judiciary may refer the complainant to the appropriate licensing authority. The judiciary shall submit to the legislature an annual report regarding the number of complaints against court-appointed child custody evaluators that are processed through the referral process.

(e) A complaint against a court-appointed child custody evaluator not qualified under subsection (a) may be resolved through civil litigation. [L 2013, c 103, §2]