S.B. 166

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; S [ AND ] s REMOVING THE STATUTORY
7 PRESUMPTION REGARDING A PARENT'S DECISION S ; MODIFYING THE DEFINITION OF
7a GRANDPARENT; AND MAKING CERTAIN PROVISIONS FOR STEPPARENT ADOPTIONS s .
8 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
9 AMENDS:
9a S 30-5-1 as last amended by Chapter 175, Laws of Utah 1992 s
10 30-5-2, as last amended by Chapter 104, Laws of Utah 1998
11 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
11a S Section 1. Section 30-5-1 is amended to read:
11b 30-5-1. Definitions.
11c As used in this act:
11d (1) "District court" means the district court within whose jurisdiction the grandchildren reside.
11e (2) "Grandchildren" means the child or children that a grandparent is seeking visitation rights
11f with under this chapter.
11g (3) "Grandparent" means a person whose child, EITHER BY BLOOD, MARRIAGE, OR
11h ADOPTION, is the parent of the grandchildren. s
12 Section S [ 1 ] 2 s . Section 30-5-2 is amended to read:
13 30-5-2. Visitation rights of grandparents.
14 (1) Grandparents have standing to bring an action in district court requesting visitation in
15 accordance with the provisions and requirements of this section.
16 [(1)] (2) The district court may grant grandparents reasonable rights of visitation, if it is
17 in the best interest of the grandchildren, in cases where a grandparent's child has died or has
18 become a noncustodial parent through divorce or legal separation.
19 [(2)] (3) In cases other than those described in Subsection (1), a grandparent may petition
20 the court for reasonable rights of visitation with a grandchild. The court may enter an order

21 granting the petitioner reasonable visitation rights in accordance with the provisions and
22 requirements of this Subsection S [ [ ] (2). There is a presumption that a parent's decision with
22a regard
23 to grandparent visitation is reasonable FOR INTACT FAMILIES ONLY [ ] ] s (3). The court may
23a override [the] a parent's decision and
24 grant reasonable visitation rights to a grandparent if it finds that:
25 (a) it is in the best interest of the grandchild;
26 (b) the petitioner is a fit and proper person to have rights of visitation with the grandchild;
27 (c) the petitioner has repeatedly attempted to visit the grandchild and has not been allowed

28 to visit the grandchild as a direct result of the actions of the parent or parents; and
29 (d) there is no other way for the petitioner to visit the grandchild without court
30 intervention[; and].
31 [(e) the petitioner has, by clear and convincing evidence, rebutted the presumption that the
32 parent's decision to refuse or limit visitation with the grandchild was reasonable.]
33 [(3)] (4) Adoption of a child, voluntary or involuntary termination of parental rights, or
34 relinquishment to a licensed child placing agency terminates all rights of a S [ biological ] s grandparent
35 to petition for visitation under this section. S NOTHING IN THIS SUBSECTION (4) AFFECTS THE
35a RIGHTS OF A GRANDPARENT ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION, IF
35b THE [ CHILD ] GRANDCHILD IS ADOPTED BY A STEPPARENT. s
36 [(4)] (5) Grandparents may petition the court as provided in Section 78-32-12.2 to remedy
37 a parent's wrongful noncompliance with a visitation order.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-27-00 9:35 AM

This legislation raises the following constitutional or statutory concerns:

This legislation removes the current statutory presumption that, in grandparent visitation cases, a
parent's decision is reasonable. Some courts may interpret this removal as a violation of parents'
constitutionally protected liberty interest in the care, custody, and management of their children
under the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution. Federal courts are currently split in
their decisions regarding this issue. A case of first impression regarding the constitutional rights
of parents and the rights and interests of grandparents in determining visitation is currently pending
before the United States Supreme Court. Oral arguments were presented to the Court on January
12, 2000.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel