A bill has been introduced in the Tennessee legislature that mandates that children of divorce spend half of their time with each of their parents.

There is one exception: where there is “clear and convincing evidence” that one of the parents is “unfit”.

A tough standard to meet. Which may serve to tie judges’ hands in custody cases.

If the bill is passed, children will arbitrarily bounce from one parent’s home to the other’s, without regard to whether that is in any particular child’s best interests in any given case.

At least one legislator is looking to put the child’s best interests back into the legal standard under the bill.

Read more in this Nashville Tennessean editorial: Custody bill goes too far.