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2017 SESSION
SB 1199 Blind parents; custody or visitation rights.
Introduced by: Barbara A. Favola | all patrons ... notes | add to my profiles
SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:
Rights of blind parents. Provides that a blind parent's blindness, as defined in the bill, shall not be the sole basis of the denial or restriction of such parent's custody or visitation rights. The bill requires a party who alleges that a parent's blindness should be a factor to be considered to not be in the best interests of the child, or should otherwise be a reason to deny or restrict such a parent's custody or visitation rights, to prove by clear and convincing evidence that the child's best interests would not be met or served due to such parent's blindness. The bill allows a blind parent to demonstrate how supportive parenting services would appropriately address any threats to the child's best interests and further allows that such services be ordered by the court. The bill requires a court to make written findings where the court denies or restricts custody or visitation of a blind parent or where supportive parenting services are not ordered. The same requirements apply to the denial of approval of a blind prospective foster parent, or removal of a child from a blind foster parent's home, and to the denial of a final order of adoption wherein the prospective adoptive parent is blind.
FULL TEXT
- 01/10/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17103085D pdf | impact statement
- 02/01/17 Senate: Committee substitute printed 17104405D-S1 pdf | impact statement
HISTORY
- 01/10/17 Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17103085D
- 01/10/17 Senate: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 02/01/17 Senate: Reported from Courts of Justice with substitute (14-Y 1-N)
- 02/01/17 Senate: Committee substitute printed 17104405D-S1
- 02/03/17 Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed (39-Y 0-N)
- 02/06/17 Senate: Read second time
- 02/06/17 Senate: Reading of substitute waived
- 02/06/17 Senate: Committee substitute agreed to 17104405D-S1
- 02/06/17 Senate: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB1199S1
- 02/09/17 House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/09/17 House: Read first time
- 02/09/17 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 02/09/17 House: Assigned Courts sub: Civil Law
- 02/13/17 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table by voice vote
- 02/21/17 House: Left in Courts of Justice