HB 461 -- GRANDPARENT VISITATION

SPONSOR:  Ostmann

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Children,
Families and Health by a vote of 10 to 1.

This bill adds to the list of circumstances in which a court may
grant grandparent visitation a situation where a child has
resided with the grandparent for at least 6 months within the
previous 24 months.  Unreasonable denial of visitation for a
period exceeding 90 days is eliminated as a basis for awarding
grandparent visitation if the natural parents are married to
each other and living together with the child.  The bill also
creates a rebuttable presumption that natural parents married to
each other and living together with a child know what is in the
best interest of the child.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that not all grandparents treat
their grandchildren with love and that current law rarely
considers the authority of the parents when granting visitation
to grandparents.  The bill will allow parents who form a nuclear
family the right to determine the best interests of their child
in grandparent visitation decisions.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Ostmann; Dean
Blakely; Ed Clausen; and Debbie Hall.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Joseph Deering, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:44 am