Enact the Ohio Custody Mediation and Orientation Act

HB 895 establishes the Ohio Custody Mediation and Orientation Act, which requires courts to order mediation for parents who cannot agree on child custody or parenting schedules in divorce and family law cases. This bill mandates that mediators be trained in family law, child development, power imbalances, and domestic violence screening, while also requiring parents to attend an orientation session before mediation begins. The legislation includes specific protections for parents with histories of domestic violence by allowing courts to waive mediation or require detailed written findings before ordering it, and it ensures that mediators cannot be called as witnesses in future court proceedings regarding the custody dispute. Additionally, the act limits what information can be included in mediation reports to only the outcomes and agreements reached, shielding the details of the mediation process from public court records.