| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 3/30/2012 4:34:38 PM Dee Black--HSLDA Georgia: Bad Grandparent Visitation Bill Passes Senate |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== Georgia: Bad Grandparent Visitation Bill Passes Senate Dear HSLDA Members and Friends: House Bill 1198, the grandparent visitation bill that would violate the right of responsible parents to control access to their children by grandparents, passed the full Senate on March 26. It now goes to Governor Nathan Deal for his signature before it becomes law. The only way for this bill to be stopped now is for the governor to veto it. But he needs to know that many Georgians object to House Bill 1198's violation of their God-given parental rights. Please follow the easy directions below to email the governor and let him know that you oppose this bill. 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. Action Requested: 1. You may email Governor Deal by clicking on the following link: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=14257 . Please send this message or something similar in your own words: "Please veto 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. For example, a widow who was a fit parent would no longer have the right to determine the extent of visitation by her deceased husband's parents. 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 the governor, there is no need to identify yourself as a homeschooler. This is a parental rights issue that potentially affects all Georgia families. 2. Please forward this email to every family you know who is not a member of HSLDA and urge them to contact the governor. To view the text of this bill, please go to http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=14258 . Please email the governor today! Sincerely, Dewitt T. Black, III HSLDA Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Have you ever yelled into the wind, only to hear the sound of your voice blown back at you? It's hard to be heard in the midst of a storm. Trying to influence federal legislation is much like yelling to be heard while standing in a fierce wind. Yet when 80,000 voices join together, they become a powerful force that cannot be drowned out. Join HSLDA to be heard above the tempests that threaten homeschool freedoms. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1939 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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If this is an invalid email address or you have other problems, please reply to webmaster@hslda.org. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: This is considered a private and confidential message from HSLDA to its bonafide HSLDA E-lert Service subscribers. HSLDA cannot attest to the authenticity of copies posted, forwarded, or sent by any party other than HSLDA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Please do not reply or otherwise use this email address; hslda@hslda.org is for broadcast purposes only and is not intended to receive incoming messages. We cannot reply to any email sent to this address. If you have comments or questions, please send email to info@hslda.org or call HSLDA at 540-338-5600. HSLDA members can also email staff directly through the Members website at http://members.hslda.org/contact.asp. Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
