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 AnalystCopyright (c) Missouri House of Representatives