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S.B. 166

             1     

GRANDPARENTS VISITATION RIGHTS

             2     
2000 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: Terry R. Spencer

             5      AN ACT RELATING TO GRANDPARENTS; CLARIFYING GRANDPARENTS' STANDING
             6      TO BRING AN ACTION IN DISTRICT COURT; S [ AND ] s REMOVING THE STATUTORY
             7      PRESUMPTION REGARDING A PARENT'S DECISION S ; MODIFYING THE DEFINITION OF
             7a      GRANDPARENT; AND MAKING CERTAIN PROVISIONS FOR STEPPARENT ADOPTIONS s .
             8      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             9      AMENDS:
             9a      S 30-5-1 as last amended by Chapter 175, Laws of Utah 1992 s
             10          30-5-2, as last amended by Chapter 104, Laws of Utah 1998
             11      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             11a      S Section 1. Section 30-5-1 is amended to read:
             11b          30-5-1. Definitions.
             11c          As used in this act:
             11d          (1) "District court" means the district court within whose jurisdiction the grandchildren reside.
             11e          (2) "Grandchildren" means the child or children that a grandparent is seeking visitation rights
             11f      with under this chapter.
             11g          (3) "Grandparent" means a person whose child, EITHER BY BLOOD, MARRIAGE, OR
             11h      ADOPTION, is the parent of the grandchildren. s
             12          Section S [ 1 ] 2 s . Section 30-5-2 is amended to read:
             13           30-5-2. Visitation rights of grandparents.
             14          (1) Grandparents have standing to bring an action in district court requesting visitation in
             15      accordance with the provisions and requirements of this section.
             16          [(1)] (2) The district court may grant grandparents reasonable rights of visitation, if it is
             17      in the best interest of the grandchildren, in cases where a grandparent's child has died or has
             18      become a noncustodial parent through divorce or legal separation.
             19          [(2)] (3) In cases other than those described in Subsection (1), a grandparent may petition
             20      the court for reasonable rights of visitation with a grandchild. The court may enter an order

             21      granting the petitioner reasonable visitation rights in accordance with the provisions and
             22      requirements of this Subsection S [ [ ] (2). There is a presumption that a parent's decision with
             22a      regard
             23      to grandparent visitation is reasonable FOR INTACT FAMILIES ONLY [ ] ] s (3). The court may
             23a      override [the] a parent's decision and
             24      grant reasonable visitation rights to a grandparent if it finds that:
             25          (a) it is in the best interest of the grandchild;
             26          (b) the petitioner is a fit and proper person to have rights of visitation with the grandchild;
             27          (c) the petitioner has repeatedly attempted to visit the grandchild and has not been allowed

             28      to visit the grandchild as a direct result of the actions of the parent or parents; and
             29          (d) there is no other way for the petitioner to visit the grandchild without court
             30      intervention[; and].
             31          [(e) the petitioner has, by clear and convincing evidence, rebutted the presumption that the
             32      parent's decision to refuse or limit visitation with the grandchild was reasonable.]
             33          [(3)] (4) Adoption of a child, voluntary or involuntary termination of parental rights, or
             34      relinquishment to a licensed child placing agency terminates all rights of a S [ biological ] s grandparent
             35      to petition for visitation under this section. S NOTHING IN THIS SUBSECTION (4) AFFECTS THE
             35a      RIGHTS OF A GRANDPARENT ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, IF
             35b      THE [ CHILD ] GRANDCHILD IS ADOPTED BY A STEPPARENT. s
             36          [(4)] (5) Grandparents may petition the court as provided in Section 78-32-12.2 to remedy
             37      a parent's wrongful noncompliance with a visitation order.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-27-00 9:35 AM

This legislation raises the following constitutional or statutory concerns:

This legislation removes the current statutory presumption that, in grandparent visitation cases, a
parent's decision is reasonable. Some courts may interpret this removal as a violation of parents'
constitutionally protected liberty interest in the care, custody, and management of their children
under the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution. Federal courts are currently split in
their decisions regarding this issue. A case of first impression regarding the constitutional rights
of parents and the rights and interests of grandparents in determining visitation is currently pending
before the United States Supreme Court. Oral arguments were presented to the Court on January
12, 2000.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

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