House Bill 1108: Allows Court to Order Grandparent Visitation

Author:
Representatives Kagi, Haler, Kessler, McDonald, Moeller, Morrell, Hankins, Dunshee, McCoy, Ormsby, Hudgins, Sells, Haigh, Kenney, Springer, Wallace.

Summary:
There are two bills in the Washington legislature that would permit grandparents to petition the court for visitation rights against the wishes of parents. House Bill 1108 and Senate Bill 5071 would permit a grandparent to ask the court to order visitation even when the family is intact and the parents believe it to be in the best interest of their children to limit their contact with their grandparents.

These bills should be strongly opposed as an attack on parental rights. Instead of presuming that fit parents make decisions in the best interest of their children, these bills would only require the court to give “deference” to the decisions of fit parents while examining whether their decision was reasonable

Status:

1/24/2007		Hearing is scheduled for the Judiciary Committee.
3/14/2007		Did not pass the Senate deadline for trasmittal to House.

HSLDA's Position:
Opposed.

Action Requested:

Other Resources

January-22-2007—Washington—Bills Allow Court to Order Grandparent Visitation

Bill Text   (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)