Sec. 1. 19-A MRSA §2006, sub-§4-A is enacted to read:

4-A.__Child care.__In any court action to determine or modify support of a minor child or children, the nonprimary residential care provider, referred to in this section as the "child support obligor," or either party in case primary residential care is shared equally, may provide child care or may have a parent or sibling provide child care, subject to the following conditions.

A.__If the child support obligor's place of residence or employment is within 20 miles of the place of residence or employment of the other parent, the parties shall share equally the responsibility and costs of transportation associated with the care.

B.__If the child support obligor's place of residence or employment is not within 20 miles of the place of residence or employment of the other parent, the responsibility and costs of transportation associated with the care must be borne by the child support obligor.

C.__The child care provided must be consistent with the best interests of the child or children.

The provision of child care by the child support obligor in accordance with this subsection does not increase or decrease the percentage of time that a parent has primary responsibility for a child for purposes of determining the annual percentage of time a parent has primary residential care under section 2001, subsection 8.__If a court refuses to authorize child care by the obligor pursuant to this subsection, the court shall state in writing or on the record any reasons that care should not be allowed.

This subsection does not apply to a parent denied parental rights and responsibilities in a court order.

Sec. 2. 19-A MRSA §2007, sub-§3, ¶¶P and Q, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2, and affected by Pt. E, §2, are amended to read:

P. An obligor party's substantial financial obligation regarding the costs of transportation of each child for