Sec. 1. 19-A MRSA §1657, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 and affected by Pt. E, §2, is amended to read:

3. Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. The jurisdiction granted by this section to make or alter an order concerning parental rights and responsibilities with respect to a minor child is limited by the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, if another state may have jurisdiction as provided in that Act.

Sec. 2. 19-A MRSA c. 57, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 and affected by Pt. E, §2, is repealed.

Sec. 3. 19-A MRSA c. 58 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 58

UNIFORM CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION

AND ENFORCEMENT ACT

SUBCHAPTER 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

§1731.__Short title

This chapter may be cited as the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.

Uniform Comment

Section 1 of the UCCJA was a statement of the purposes of the Act. Although extensively cited by courts, it was eliminated because Uniform Acts no longer contain such a section. Nonetheless, this Act should be interpreted according to its purposes which are to:

(1) Avoid jurisdictional competition and conflict with courts of other States in matters of child custody which have in the past resulted in the shifting of children from State to State with harmful effects on their well-being;

(2) Promote cooperation with the courts of other States to the end that a custody decree is rendered in that State which can best decide the case in the interest of the child;