family court; professional personnel; liability

SB 1329 allows parents in Arizona family court cases involving custody or parenting time decisions to file a civil lawsuit against licensed professionals (like therapists or custody evaluators) appointed by the court if those professionals violate their professional ethics standards. The bill establishes a four-year statute of limitations, requiring parents to file such lawsuits within four years of when the issue occurred. It directly affects parents seeking redress for alleged professional misconduct by court-appointed personnel and the licensed professionals themselves. The law does not change court procedures or create new duties for professionals, only providing a legal remedy for specific ethics violations.