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IN SB0484
Bill
Status
1/14/2019
Primary Sponsor
Ronnie Alting
Click for details
AI Summary
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Extends visitation rights eligibility to great-grandparents, in addition to grandparents, allowing them to petition for visitation with great-grandchildren under specified circumstances.
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Creates a new ground for seeking visitation: when a grandparent or great-grandparent had meaningful contact with a child but visits were terminated by the parent due to estrangement between the parent and the grandparent/great-grandparent.
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Establishes seven factors courts must consider when determining best interests of the child, including: age and sex of child, wishes of all parties, child's wishes (with greater weight if child is 14+), relationships between child and family members, mental/physical health of all involved, evidence of domestic violence, and evidence the grandparent/great-grandparent has cared for the child.
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Authorizes courts to order a party in grandparent/great-grandparent visitation proceedings to pay reasonable costs of the other party, including attorney's fees and mediation expenses.
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Takes effect upon passage and is declared an emergency measure.
Legislative Description
Grandparent and great-grandparent visitation. Allows great-grandparents to seek visitation rights with their great-grandchildren in certain circumstances. Allows a grandparent or great-grandparent to seek visitation if the grandparent or great-grandparent has had meaningful contact with the child but, as a result of an estrangement between the parent of the child and the grandparent or great-grandparent, the parent of the child has terminated the child's visits with the grandparent or great-grandparent. Establishes factors for the court to consider in determining whether granting a grandparent or great-grandparent visitation rights is in the best interests of the child. Provides that a court may order a party to a proceeding on a petition for grandparent or great-grandparent visitation to pay a reasonable amount of the cost to the other party of maintaining or defending the proceeding, including costs for attorney's fees and mediation. Specifies that certain agencies may not be required to pay costs. Makes conforming changes.
Last Action
Senator Sandlin added as second author
1/24/2019