General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5608
February Session, 2016 LCO No. 2787
*02787_______JUD*
Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
Introduced by:
(JUD)
General Assembly
Raised Bill No. 5608
February Session, 2016
LCO No. 2787
*02787_______JUD*
Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
Introduced by:
(JUD)
AN ACT CONCERNING A GRANDPARENT'S RIGHT OF VISITATION WITH A GRANDCHILD.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 46b-59 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2016):
(b) (1) A grandparent may submit a verified petition to the Superior Court for the right of visitation with any minor child. Such petition shall include specific and good-faith allegations that (A) a parent-like relationship exists between the grandparent and the minor child and denial of visitation would cause real and significant harm; or (B) compelling circumstances exist that overcome the presumption that the parental decision to deny such visitation is in the child's best interest. Subject to subsection (e) of this section, the court shall grant the right of visitation with any minor child to a grandparent if the court finds after hearing and by clear and convincing evidence that (i) a parent-like relationship exists between the grandparent and the minor child and denial of visitation would cause real and significant harm; or (ii) compelling circumstances exist that overcome the presumption that the parental decision to deny such visitation is in the child's best interest.
[(b)] (2) Any person, other than a grandparent, may submit a verified petition to the Superior Court for the right of visitation with any minor child. Such petition shall include specific and good-faith allegations that [(1)] a parent-like relationship exists between the person and the minor child [,] and [(2)] denial of visitation would cause real and significant harm. Subject to subsection (e) of this section, the court shall grant the right of visitation with any minor child to any person if the court finds after hearing and by clear and convincing evidence that a parent-like relationship exists between the person and the minor child and denial of visitation would cause real and significant harm.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1 October 1, 2016 46b-59(b)
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1
October 1, 2016
46b-59(b)
Statement of Purpose:
To allow a grandparent a right of visitation with a minor child if the grandparent establishes by clear and convincing evidence that compelling circumstances exist to support visitation with the minor child.
[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.]