HB 983 Summary

• Removes grandparents from the list of persons automatically entitled to reasonable visitation rights in Section 571-46(a)(7), requiring grandparents to file separate petitions instead.

• Establishes three findings required for courts to award grandparent visitation: Hawaii is the child's home state, grandparent visitation serves the child's best interest, and denial of visitation would cause significant harm to the child.

• Creates a rebuttable presumption that a parent's decision regarding grandparent visitation is in the child's best interest, which can be overcome only by clear evidence that denial would cause significant harm.

• Requires grandparent visitation determinations to follow the same standards, considerations, and procedures used for parent visitation under Section 571-46.

• Makes violations of grandparent visitation orders subject to court sanctions in accordance with Section 571-81, with enforcement provisions to protect the child's best interests.