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First Substitute S.B. 166

Senator Terry R. Spencer proposes to substitute the following bill:


             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; MODIFYING THE DEFINITION OF
             7      GRANDPARENT; CHANGING THE STANDARDS FOR REBUTTING PRESUMPTION
             8      REGARDING A PARENT'S DECISION; MAKING CERTAIN PROVISIONS FOR
             9      STEPPARENT ADOPTIONS; AND PROVIDING THAT UNDER CERTAIN
             10      CIRCUMSTANCES GRANDPARENTS MAY HAVE A PRESUMPTION FOR CONTINUED
             11      COURT-ORDERED VISITATION AFTER A GRANDCHILD HAS BEEN ADOPTED OR
             12      PARENTAL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN TERMINATED.
             13      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             14      AMENDS:
             15          30-5-1, as last amended by Chapter 175, Laws of Utah 1992
             16          30-5-2, as last amended by Chapter 104, Laws of Utah 1998
             17      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             18          Section 1. Section 30-5-1 is amended to read:
             19           30-5-1. Definitions.
             20          As used in this act:
             21          (1) "District court" means the district court within whose jurisdiction the grandchildren
             22      reside.
             23          (2) "Grandchildren" means the child or children that a grandparent is seeking visitation
             24      rights with under this chapter.
             25          (3) "Grandparent" means a person whose child, either by blood, marriage, or adoption, is

             26      the parent of the grandchildren.
             27          Section 2. Section 30-5-2 is amended to read:
             28           30-5-2. Visitation rights of grandparents.
             29          (1) Grandparents have standing to bring an action in district court requesting visitation in
             30      accordance with the provisions and requirements of this section.
             31          [(1)] (2) The district court may grant grandparents reasonable rights of visitation, if it is
             32      in the best interest of the grandchildren, in cases where a grandparent's child has died or has
             33      become a noncustodial parent through divorce or legal separation.
             34          [(2)] (3) In cases other than those described in Subsection [(1)] (2), a grandparent may
             35      petition the court for reasonable rights of visitation with a grandchild. The court may enter an
             36      order granting the petitioner reasonable visitation rights in accordance with the provisions and
             37      requirements of this Subsection [(2)] (3). There is a presumption that a parent's decision with
             38      regard to grandparent visitation is reasonable. The court may override the parent's decision and
             39      grant reasonable visitation rights to a grandparent if it finds that:
             40          (a) it is in the best interest of the grandchild;
             41          (b) the petitioner is a fit and proper person to have rights of visitation with the grandchild;
             42          (c) the petitioner has repeatedly attempted to visit the grandchild and has not been allowed
             43      to visit the grandchild as a direct result of the actions of the parent or parents;
             44          (d) there is no other way for the petitioner to visit the grandchild without court
             45      intervention; and
             46          (e) the petitioner has[, by clear and convincing evidence,] rebutted the presumption that
             47      the parent's decision to refuse or limit visitation with the grandchild was reasonable.
             48          [(3) Adoption] (4) (a) There is a presumption that adoption of a child, voluntary or
             49      involuntary termination of parental rights, or relinquishment to a licensed child placing agency
             50      terminates all rights of a [biological] grandparent to petition for visitation under this section. That
             51      presumption may be rebutted if the court finds that a child has established a relationship with the
             52      grandparent, and that the child's continued contact with the grandparent will be in the best interest
             53      of the child.
             54          (b) Nothing in this Subsection (4) affects visitation rights of a grandparent that have been
             55      ordered by a court pursuant to this section, if the grandchild is adopted by the grandchild's
             56      stepparent.

             57          [(4)] (5) Grandparents may petition the court as provided in Section 78-32-12.2 to remedy
             58      a parent's wrongful noncompliance with a visitation order.

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