FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to revise certain provisions regarding child custody during a soldier's deployment.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
    Section 1. That § 33-6-10 be amended to read as follows:
    33-6-10. A member of the armed forces of the United States, including a member of the reserve component of the armed forces of the United States called into active service of the armed forces, and servicemember ordered to deployment, who is the physical custodian or guardian of a minor or incapacitated person, may delegate by a properly executed power of attorney to another person for a period of one year or less any of the powers regarding care and custody of the minor child or ward, except the power to consent to marriage or adoption of a minor ward. If the custodian or guardian is serving on active duty with the armed forces of the United States, and a power of attorney properly executed by such person lapses prior to the servicemember's release of such custodian or guardian from active duty, the power of attorney shall be automatically extended for an additional year unless the custodian or guardian servicemember is sooner released from active duty. The Neither the execution of such a power

of attorney pursuant to this section or upon activation of the service member into the armed forces of the United States does not constitute a material change in circumstances for an action seeking to change the custody of the affected child or children by the parent without physical custody, nor the deployment itself, may be considered a factor in considering a substantial and material change of circumstances, nor a factor in a best interest of the child determination for purposes of permanent child custody modification proceedings. There is hereby imposed an automatic stay of all proceedings seeking a permanent change in custody of a minor child where the parent with physical custody is a member of the active component or reserve component of the armed forces of the United States called into active service during a period of national emergency servicemember called to active duty for deployment. Such stay shall continue for the period of service of the national emergency due to deployment, unless waived in writing by the service member. Nothing in this section precludes a petition by the noncustodial parent to temporarily change physical custody, the best interests of the child remains determinative for such temporary custody determinations. However, the best interests of the child shall be determinative Any temporary order modifying physical custody of the child automatically terminates upon return of the servicemember from deployment and reverts back to the custody status or order in effect prior to the deployment. However, if upon return from the deployment either the servicemember or child exhibits a substantial and material change in circumstances which adversely affects the servicemember's ability to adequately care for the child, the best interests of the child shall be determinative.The temporary custody provisions of § 25-4A-11 do not apply to the temporary custody provisions of this section.