S-3433               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6179

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Senators Kiskaddon, Talmadge, Bailey, Pullen, Stratton and Saling

Read first time 1/13/88 and referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

AN ACT Relating to visitation rights; and amending RCW 26.10.160.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 44, chapter 460, Laws of 1987 and RCW 26.10.160 are each amended to read as follows:

          A parent, custodian, or guardian not granted custody of the child is entitled to reasonable visitation rights unless the court finds, after a hearing, that visitation would endanger the child's physical, mental, or emotional health, or if the court determines that the child has been abused by the parent, custodian, or guardian.  Visitation by the abusing parent, custodian, or guardian may be resumed when (1) the abusing individual successfully completes a treatment program and (2) the child, the child's therapist, and the abuser's therapist agree that the child is emotionally ready and contact is safe for the child.  The court may order visitation rights for any person when visitation may serve the best interest of the child whether or not there has been any change of circumstances.

          Any person may petition the court for visitation rights at any time including, but not limited to, custody proceedings.

          The court may modify an order granting or denying visitation rights whenever modification would serve the best interests of the child but the court shall not restrict a parent's visitation rights unless it finds that the visitation would endanger the child's physical, mental, or emotional health.