General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6281
January Session, 2011 LCO No. 2775
*02775_______KID*
Referred to Committee on Select Committee on Children
Introduced by:
(KID)
General Assembly
Raised Bill No. 6281
January Session, 2011
LCO No. 2775
*02775_______KID*
Referred to Committee on Select Committee on Children
Introduced by:
(KID)
AN ACT CONCERNING VISITATION RIGHTS FOR GRANDPARENTS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 46b-59 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2011):
(a) The Superior Court may grant the right of visitation with respect to any minor child or children to any person, upon an application of such person. Such order shall be according to the court's best judgment upon the facts of the case and subject to (1) the provisions of subsection (b) of this section; and (2) such conditions and limitations as it deems equitable, provided the grant of such visitation rights shall not be contingent upon any order of financial support by the court. In making, modifying or terminating such an order, the court shall be guided by the best interest of the child, giving consideration to the wishes of such child if he is of sufficient age and capable of forming an intelligent opinion. Visitation rights granted in accordance with this section shall not be deemed to have created parental rights in the person or persons to whom such visitation rights are granted. The grant of such visitation rights shall not prevent any court of competent jurisdiction from thereafter acting upon the custody of such child, the parental rights with respect to such child or the adoption of such child and any such court may include in its decree an order terminating such visitation rights.
(b) In the case of an application for visitation by a grandparent, the court shall grant an order if the applicant demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that: (1) Visitation is in the best interests of the child; (2) the parent, who is the child of the applicant, is deceased; (3) the applicant's relationship with the child has been parental in nature for a substantial period of time; and (4) the child will suffer real and substantial harm if visitation is not granted.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2011 46b-59
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
October 1, 2011
46b-59
Statement of Purpose:
To require courts to grant an order for visitation to a grandparent when: (1) Visitation is in the best interests of the child; (2) the parent, who is the child of the grandparent, is deceased; (3) the grandparent's relationship with the child has been parental in nature for a substantial period of time; and (4) the child will suffer real and substantial harm if visitation is not granted.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]