provide a rebuttable presumption in favor of joint physical custody of a minor child.

SB 224 creates a legal presumption that joint physical custody (where a child spends roughly equal time with both parents) is in the best interest of a child during custody disputes in South Dakota. It directly affects parents involved in custody cases by requiring courts to start with this presumption unless evidence shows joint custody would harm the child. The bill specifies that courts must consider factors like safety or stability to rebut the presumption, and defines joint physical custody as time split approximately equally between parents. This change applies to all custody determinations under South Dakota law, replacing prior standards.