| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 3/12/2012 3:18:13 PM Dee Black--HSLDA Georgia: Calls Needed to Stop Violation of Parental Rights |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== Calls Needed to Stop Violation of Parental Rights This bill restricts the right of parents. Dee Black is senior counsel for member affairs in Arkansas. He and his wife homeschooled all four of their children. Read more >> March 12, 2012 Dear HSLDA Members and Friends: Your calls and emails are needed to stop Georgia House Bill 1198, which would violate the constitutional right of parents to determine in what instances grandparents may visit with the parents' children. Among other things, this bill provides that if one of the parents of a minor child dies, becomes incapacitated, or is incarcerated, the grandparents may be granted visitation if the court determines that it is in the child's best interest, despite the objections of the other parent. Historically, the "best interest of the child" standard has been applied in family matters only when there is a finding by the court of abuse or neglect of the children or in a divorce situation when the court must decide custody and visitation. In other instances, the courts have recognized the right of responsible parents to make their own decisions regarding the upbringing of their children, including the extent to which grandparents are permitted access to the children. This bill would put judges in the place of making decisions that parents should be making. For example, if the father of an intact family died, the mother would no longer have the right to decide whether her husband's parents would have access to her children. If she considered that her children were unsafe with the grandparents or that the grandparents were a bad influence on the children and denied visitation because of this, the grandparents would have the right to petition the court and let the judge make the decision. Unfortunately, this bill passed the House of Representatives on March 7 by the unanimous vote of 154 to 0. It is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee where a vote could come any day. This bill has a lot of momentum and will be hard to stop, but your your calls can make the difference. Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee need to be reminded that responsible parents should retain the right to make decisions about the upbringing of their children. Place contact members of this committee today before this bill goes any further. Action Requested: 1. Please call and/or email as many members of the Senate Judiciary Committee as possible with this message or something similar in your own words: "Please vote against House Bill 1198, a grandparent visitation bill, which would take away the right of responsible parents to decide in what instances grandparents may visit with the parents' children. The courts should intervene in such family matters only when the parents are unfit or in divorce cases when custody and visitation must be decided." When contacting members of the Committee, there is no need to identify yourself as a homeschooler. This is a parental rights issue that potentially affects all Georgia families. The members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are as follows: Bill Hamrick, Chairman http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/Member.aspx?Member=16 Bill Cowsert, Vice Chairman http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/Member.aspx?Member=9 John Crosby, Secretary http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/Member.aspx?Member=721 Judson Hill, Ex-Officio http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/Member.aspx?Member=23 Charlie Bethel http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/Member.aspx?Member=753 Jason Carter http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/Member.aspx?Member=720 Vincent Fort http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/Member.aspx?Member=12 William T. Ligon, Jr. http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/Member.aspx?Member=746 Joshua McKoon http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/Member.aspx?Member=749 Ronald B. Ramsey, Sr. http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/Member.aspx?Member=36 Jesse Stone http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/Member.aspx?Member=748 2. Please forward this e-mail to every family you know who is not a member of HSLDA and urge them to contact members of the committee. To view the text of this bill, please go to http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/124121.pdf Please call or email today! Sincerely, Dewitt T. Black, III HSLDA Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> "I saved my entire membership fee with one discount" "When I called Liberty to find out what kind of discount we could get, they told us we would 10% off our car insurance and 5% off our homeowner's insurance. What we will save is more than double what it costs to join HSLDA. With one child getting his driver's license this year, the savings will be a real blessing!" 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Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
