H‑0197.3   _____________________________________________

 

HOUSE BILL 1054

 

           _____________________________________________

 

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Edmonds, Lambert, Ogden, Kagi, O'Brien, Haigh, Kenney and Lantz

 

Read first time 01/12/2001.  Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

_1      AN ACT Relating to third-party visitation; amending RCW

_2  26.09.240 and 26.10.160; adding a new section to chapter 26.10

_3  RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

     

_4  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

     

_5      NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  (1) In Troxel v. Granville, No. 99-138,

_6  decided June 5, 2000, the United States supreme court recognized

_7  that the right of parents in the care and custody of their

_8  children is a fundamental liberty interest.  The court also

_9  acknowledged that demographic changes in the past century have

10  created complex family structures, and third-party visitation

11  statutes reflect the changing realities of the American family.

12      (2) Legislatures and courts across the country recognize that

13  families are composed of individuals who share an emotional

14  attachment and intimacy developed over time, and that such

15  emotional bonds do not necessarily require biological or marital

16  relationships.  By acting in a caregiver or other significant

17  emotionally involved role over a period of time, a third party may

18  develop a substantial relationship with a child.  In some cases,

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_1  arbitrarily depriving the child of that relationship can cause

_2  psychological or emotional harm to the child.  The legislature seeks

_3  to prevent the harm to children caused by the disruption of such

_4  significant bonds.

     

_5      NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 26.10

_6  RCW to read as follows:

_7      (1) A person who is not a parent of the child may petition the

_8  court for visitation with the child if the petitioner can

_9  demonstrate that:

10      (a) There is a substantial relationship between the petitioner

11  and the child;

12      (b) The petitioner has been unreasonably denied visitation with

13  the child by a parent, custodian, or other person with primary

14  decision-making authority over the child; and

15      (c) There has been a significant change in circumstances with

16  either the child, the petitioner, or the parent, custodian, or

17  other person having primary decision-making authority over the

18  child that threatens the substantial relationship between the

19  child and the petitioner.  The change in circumstances could

20  include, but is not limited to, a dissolution, legal separation,

21  informal physical separation, death of a parent, or other

22  significant change in the family structure.

23      (2)(a) If the court dismisses a petition for visitation brought

24  under this section because the petitioner failed to demonstrate

25  the requirements in subsection (1) of this section, the court must

26  order the petitioner to pay reasonable attorneys= fees and costs to

27  the party responding to the petition.  Nothing in this subsection

28  precludes a court from ordering attorneys' fees and costs under

29  RCW 26.10.080.

30      (b) Petitions that are not dismissed by the court must be

31  submitted to mandatory mediation before proceeding to trial.  Upon

32  petition of any party that mediation is not appropriate, the court

33  may order or the mediator may determine that the case is not

34  appropriate for mediation.  Mediation shall be pursuant to mediation

35  procedures established by court rules for third-party visitation

36  cases.

HB 1054                        p. 2

 

_1      (3)(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, a petition

_2  for visitation brought under this section must be filed in the

_3  county in which the child resides.

_4      (b) If a dissolution, legal separation, modification of

_5  parenting plan, or other custody proceeding is pending involving

_6  the child, the petition for visitation under this section shall be

_7  filed in the county in which the proceeding is pending.

_8      (4) The court may order visitation between the petitioner and

_9  the child if the petitioner shows and the court finds that:

10      (a) Denial of court-ordered visitation would result in a

11  likelihood of harm to the child=s physical, psychological, or

12  emotional well-being;

13      (b) The likelihood of harm is beyond the normal short-term

14  distress a child suffers due to a change in circumstances;

15      (c) Continuation of the substantial relationship between the

16  child and the petitioner would likely have long-term benefits to

17  the child; and

18      (d) Visitation would not substantially interfere with the

19  relationship between the child and the parent, custodian, or other

20  person with primary decision-making authority over the child.

21      (5) In determining the nature and extent of visitation, the

22  court must consider the wishes of a child who is sufficiently

23  mature to express reasoned and independent preferences as to

24  visitation issues.

25      (6) The restrictions of RCW 26.10.160 that apply to parents

26  shall apply to the petitioner under this section.

     

27      Sec. 3.  RCW 26.09.240 and 1996 c 177 s 1 are each amended to read

28  as follows:

29      (1) Under section 1 of this act, a person other than a parent

30  may petition the court for visitation with a child ((at any time))

31  or may intervene in a pending dissolution, legal separation, or

32  modification of parenting plan proceeding.  ((A person other than a

33  parent may not petition for visitation under this section unless

34  the child's parent or parents have commenced an action under this

35  chapter.

36      (2) A petition for visitation with a child by a person other

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_1  than a parent must be filed in the county in which the child

_2  resides.

_3      (3) A petition for visitation or a motion to intervene pursuant

_4  to this section shall be dismissed unless the petitioner or

_5  intervenor can demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that a

_6  significant relationship exists with the child with whom

_7  visitation is sought.  If the petition or motion is dismissed for

_8  failure to establish the existence of a significant relationship,

_9  the petitioner or intervenor shall be ordered to pay reasonable

10  attorney's fees and costs to the parent, parents, other custodian,

11  or representative of the child who responds to this petition or

12  motion.

13      (4) The court may order visitation between the petitioner or

14  intervenor and the child between whom a significant relationship

15  exists upon a finding supported by the evidence that the

16  visitation is in the child's best interests.

17      (5)(a) Visitation with a grandparent shall be presumed to be in

18  the child's best interests when a significant relationship has

19  been shown to exist.  This presumption may be rebutted by a

20  preponderance of evidence showing that visitation would endanger

21  the child's physical, mental, or emotional health.

22      (b) If the court finds that reasonable visitation by a

23  grandparent would be in the child's best interest except for

24  hostilities that exist between the grandparent and one or both of

25  the parents or person with whom the child lives, the court may set

26  the matter for mediation under RCW 26.09.015.

27      (6) The court may consider the following factors when making a

28  determination of the child's best interests:

29      (a) The strength of the relationship between the child and the

30  petitioner;

31      (b) The relationship between each of the child's parents or the

32  person with whom the child is residing and the petitioner;

33      (c) The nature and reason for either parent's objection to

34  granting the petitioner visitation;

35      (d) The effect that granting visitation will have on the

36  relationship between the child and the child's parents or the

37  person with whom the child is residing;

HB 1054                        p. 4

 

_1      (e) The residential time sharing arrangements between the

_2  parents;

_3      (f) The good faith of the petitioner;

_4      (g) Any criminal history or history of physical, emotional, or

_5  sexual abuse or neglect by the petitioner; and

_6      (h) Any other factor relevant to the child's best interest.

_7      (7) The restrictions of RCW 26.09.191 that apply to parents

_8  shall be applied to a petitioner or intervenor who is not a

_9  parent.  The nature and extent of visitation, subject to these

10  restrictions, is in the discretion of the court.

11      (8) The court may order an investigation and report concerning

12  the proposed visitation or may appoint a guardian ad litem as

13  provided in RCW 26.09.220.

14      (9) Visitation granted pursuant to this section shall be

15  incorporated into the parenting plan for the child.

16      (10) The court may modify or terminate visitation rights

17  granted pursuant to this section in any subsequent modification

18  action upon a showing that the visitation is no longer in the best

19  interest of the child.))

     

20      Sec. 4.  RCW 26.10.160 and 1996 c 303 s 2 are each amended to read

21  as follows:

22      (1) A parent not granted custody of the child is entitled to

23  reasonable visitation rights except as provided in subsection (2)

24  of this section.

25      (2)(a) Visitation with the child shall be limited if it is

26  found that the parent seeking visitation has engaged in any of the

27  following conduct:  (i) Willful abandonment that continues for an

28  extended period of time or substantial refusal to perform

29  parenting functions; (ii) physical, sexual, or a pattern of

30  emotional abuse of a child; (iii) a history of acts of domestic

31  violence as defined in RCW 26.50.010(1) or an assault or sexual

32  assault which causes grievous bodily harm or the fear of such

33  harm; or (iv) the parent has been convicted as an adult of a sex

34  offense under:

35      (A) RCW 9A.44.076 if, because of the difference in age between

36  the offender and the victim, no rebuttable presumption exists

37  under (d) of this subsection;

                               p. 5                       HB 1054

 

_1      (B) RCW 9A.44.079 if, because of the difference in age between

_2  the offender and the victim, no rebuttable presumption exists

_3  under (d) of this subsection;

_4      (C) RCW 9A.44.086 if, because of the difference in age between

_5  the offender and the victim, no rebuttable presumption exists

_6  under (d) of this subsection;

_7      (D) RCW 9A.44.089;

_8      (E) RCW 9A.44.093;

_9      (F) RCW 9A.44.096;

10      (G) RCW 9A.64.020 (1) or (2) if, because of the difference in

11  age between the offender and the victim, no rebuttable presumption

12  exists under (d) of this subsection;

13      (H) Chapter 9.68A RCW;

14      (I) Any predecessor or antecedent statute for the offenses

15  listed in (a)(iv)(A) through (H) of this subsection;

16      (J) Any statute from any other jurisdiction that describes an

17  offense analogous to the offenses listed in (a)(iv)(A) through (H)

18  of this subsection.

19      This subsection (2)(a) shall not apply when (c) or (d) of this

20  subsection applies.

21      (b) The parent's visitation with the child shall be limited if

22  it is found that the parent resides with a person who has engaged

23  in any of the following conduct:  (i) Physical, sexual, or a pattern

24  of emotional abuse of a child; (ii) a history of acts of domestic

25  violence as defined in RCW 26.50.010(1) or an assault or sexual

26  assault that causes grievous bodily harm or the fear of such harm;

27  or (iii) the person has been convicted as an adult or as a

28  juvenile has been adjudicated of a sex offense under:

29      (A) RCW 9A.44.076 if, because of the difference in age between

30  the offender and the victim, no rebuttable presumption exists

31  under (e) of this subsection;

32      (B) RCW 9A.44.079 if, because of the difference in age between

33  the offender and the victim, no rebuttable presumption exists

34  under (e) of this subsection;

35      (C) RCW 9A.44.086 if, because of the difference in age between

36  the offender and the victim, no rebuttable presumption exists

37  under (e) of this subsection;

38      (D) RCW 9A.44.089;

HB 1054                        p. 6

 

_1      (E) RCW 9A.44.093;

_2      (F) RCW 9A.44.096;

_3      (G) RCW 9A.64.020 (1) or (2) if, because of the difference in

_4  age between the offender and the victim, no rebuttable presumption

_5  exists under (e) of this subsection;

_6      (H) Chapter 9.68A RCW;

_7      (I) Any predecessor or antecedent statute for the offenses

_8  listed in (b)(iii)(A) through (H) of this subsection;

_9      (J) Any statute from any other jurisdiction that describes an

10  offense analogous to the offenses listed in (b)(iii)(A) through

11  (H) of this subsection.

12      This subsection (2)(b) shall not apply when (c) or (e) of this

13  subsection applies.

14      (c) If a parent has been found to be a sexual predator under

15  chapter 71.09 RCW or under an analogous statute of any other

16  jurisdiction, the court shall restrain the parent from contact

17  with a child that would otherwise be allowed under this chapter.

18  If a parent resides with an adult or a juvenile who has been found

19  to be a sexual predator under chapter 71.09 RCW or under an

20  analogous statute of any other jurisdiction, the court shall

21  restrain the parent from contact with the parent's child except

22  contact that occurs outside that person's presence.

23      (d) There is a rebuttable presumption that a parent who has

24  been convicted as an adult of a sex offense listed in (d)(i)

25  through (ix) of this subsection poses a present danger to a

26  child.  Unless the parent rebuts this presumption, the court shall

27  restrain the parent from contact with a child that would otherwise

28  be allowed under this chapter:

29      (i) RCW 9A.64.020 (1) or (2), provided that the person

30  convicted was at least five years older than the other person;

31      (ii) RCW 9A.44.073;

32      (iii) RCW 9A.44.076, provided that the person convicted was at

33  least eight years older than the victim;

34      (iv) RCW 9A.44.079, provided that the person convicted was at

35  least eight years older than the victim;

36      (v) RCW 9A.44.083;

37      (vi) RCW 9A.44.086, provided that the person convicted was at

38  least eight years older than the victim;

                               p. 7                       HB 1054

 

_1      (vii) RCW 9A.44.100;

_2      (viii) Any predecessor or antecedent statute for the offenses

_3  listed in (d)(i) through (vii) of this subsection;

_4      (ix) Any statute from any other jurisdiction that describes an

_5  offense analogous to the offenses listed in (d)(i) through (vii)

_6  of this subsection.

_7      (e) There is a rebuttable presumption that a parent who resides

_8  with a person who, as an adult, has been convicted, or as a

_9  juvenile has been adjudicated, of the sex offenses listed in

10  (e)(i) through (ix) of this subsection places a child at risk of

11  abuse or harm when that parent exercises visitation in the

12  presence of the convicted or adjudicated person.  Unless the parent

13  rebuts the presumption, the court shall restrain the parent from

14  contact with the parent's child except for contact that occurs

15  outside of the convicted or adjudicated person's presence:

16      (i) RCW 9A.64.020 (1) or (2), provided that the person

17  convicted was at least five years older than the other person;

18      (ii) RCW 9A.44.073;

19      (iii) RCW 9A.44.076, provided that the person convicted was at

20  least eight years older than the victim;

21      (iv) RCW 9A.44.079, provided that the person convicted was at

22  least eight years older than the victim;

23      (v) RCW 9A.44.083;

24      (vi) RCW 9A.44.086, provided that the person convicted was at

25  least eight years older than the victim;

26      (vii) RCW 9A.44.100;

27      (viii) Any predecessor or antecedent statute for the offenses

28  listed in (e)(i) through (vii) of this subsection;

29      (ix) Any statute from any other jurisdiction that describes an

30  offense analogous to the offenses listed in (e)(i) through (vii)

31  of this subsection.

32      (f) The presumption established in (d) of this subsection may

33  be rebutted only after a written finding that:

34      (i) If the child was not the victim of the sex offense

35  committed by the parent requesting visitation, (A) contact between

36  the child and the offending parent is appropriate and poses

37  minimal risk to the child, and (B) the offending parent has

38  successfully engaged in treatment for sex offenders or is engaged

HB 1054                        p. 8

_1  in and making progress in such treatment, if any was ordered by a

_2  court, and the treatment provider believes such contact is

_3  appropriate and poses minimal risk to the child; or

_4      (ii) If the child was the victim of the sex offense committed

_5  by the parent requesting visitation, (A) contact between the child

_6  and the offending parent is appropriate and poses minimal risk to

_7  the child, (B) if the child is in or has been in therapy for

_8  victims of sexual abuse, the child's counselor believes such

_9  contact between the child and the offending parent is in the

10  child's best interest, and (C) the offending parent has

11  successfully engaged in treatment for sex offenders or is engaged

12  in and making progress in such treatment, if any was ordered by a

13  court, and the treatment provider believes such contact is

14  appropriate and poses minimal risk to the child.

15      (g) The presumption established in (e) of this subsection may

16  be rebutted only after a written finding that:

17      (i) If the child was not the victim of the sex offense

18  committed by the person who is residing with the parent requesting

19  visitation, (A) contact between the child and the parent residing

20  with the convicted or adjudicated person is appropriate and that

21  parent is able to protect the child in the presence of the

22  convicted or adjudicated person, and (B) the convicted or

23  adjudicated person has successfully engaged in treatment for sex

24  offenders or is engaged in and making progress in such treatment,

25  if any was ordered by a court, and the treatment provider believes

26  such contact is appropriate and poses minimal risk to the child;

27  or

28      (ii) If the child was the victim of the sex offense committed

29  by the person who is residing with the parent requesting

30  visitation, (A) contact between the child and the parent in the

31  presence of the convicted or adjudicated person is appropriate and

32  poses minimal risk to the child, (B) if the child is in or has

33  been in therapy for victims of sexual abuse, the child's counselor

34  believes such contact between the child and the parent residing

35  with the convicted or adjudicated person in the presence of the

36  convicted or adjudicated person is in the child's best interest,

37  and (C) the convicted or adjudicated person has successfully

38  engaged in treatment for sex offenders or is engaged in and making

                               p. 9                       HB 1054

_1  progress in such treatment, if any was ordered by a court, and the

_2  treatment provider believes contact between the parent and child

_3  in the presence of the convicted or adjudicated person is

_4  appropriate and poses minimal risk to the child.

_5      (h) If the court finds that the parent has met the burden of

_6  rebutting the presumption under (f) of this subsection, the court

_7  may allow a parent who has been convicted as an adult of a sex

_8  offense listed in (d)(i) through (ix) of this subsection to have

_9  visitation with the child supervised by a neutral and independent

10  adult and pursuant to an adequate plan for supervision of such

11  visitation.  The court shall not approve of a supervisor for contact

12  between the child and the parent unless the court finds, based on

13  the evidence, that the supervisor is willing and capable of

14  protecting the child from harm.  The court shall revoke court

15  approval of the supervisor upon finding, based on the evidence,

16  that the supervisor has failed to protect the child or is no

17  longer willing or capable of protecting the child.

18      (i) If the court finds that the parent has met the burden of

19  rebutting the presumption under (g) of this subsection, the court

20  may allow a parent residing with a person who has been adjudicated

21  as a juvenile of a sex offense listed in (e)(i) through (ix) of

22  this subsection to have visitation with the child in the presence

23  of the person adjudicated as a juvenile, supervised by a neutral

24  and independent adult and pursuant to an adequate plan for

25  supervision of such visitation.  The court shall not approve of a

26  supervisor for contact between the child and the parent unless the

27  court finds, based on the evidence, that the supervisor is willing

28  and capable of protecting the child from harm.  The court shall

29  revoke court approval of the supervisor upon finding, based on the

30  evidence, that the supervisor has failed to protect the child or

31  is no longer willing or capable of protecting the child.

32      (j) If the court finds that the parent has met the burden of

33  rebutting the presumption under (g) of this subsection, the court

34  may allow a parent residing with a person who, as an adult, has

35  been convicted of a sex offense listed in (e)(i) through (ix) of

36  this subsection to have visitation with the child in the presence

37  of the convicted person supervised by a neutral and independent

38  adult and pursuant to an adequate plan for supervision of such

HB 1054                        p. 10

_1  visitation.  The court shall not approve of a supervisor for contact

_2  between the child and the parent unless the court finds, based on

_3  the evidence, that the supervisor is willing and capable of

_4  protecting the child from harm.  The court shall revoke court

_5  approval of the supervisor upon finding, based on the evidence,

_6  that the supervisor has failed to protect the child or is no

_7  longer willing or capable of protecting the child.

_8      (k) A court shall not order unsupervised contact between the

_9  offending parent and a child of the offending parent who was

10  sexually abused by that parent.  A court may order unsupervised

11  contact between the offending parent and a child who was not

12  sexually abused by the parent after the presumption under (d) of

13  this subsection has been rebutted and supervised visitation has

14  occurred for at least two years with no further arrests or

15  convictions of sex offenses involving children under chapter 9A.44

16  RCW, RCW 9A.64.020, or chapter 9.68A RCW and (i) the sex offense

17  of the offending parent was not committed against a child of the

18  offending parent, and (ii) the court finds that unsupervised

19  contact between the child and the offending parent is appropriate

20  and poses minimal risk to the child, after consideration of the

21  testimony of a state-certified therapist, mental health counselor,

22  or social worker with expertise in treating child sexual abuse

23  victims who has supervised at least one period of visitation

24  between the parent and the child, and after consideration of

25  evidence of the offending parent's compliance with community

26  supervision requirements, if any.  If the offending parent was not

27  ordered by a court to participate in treatment for sex offenders,

28  then the parent shall obtain a psychosexual evaluation conducted

29  by a state-certified sex offender treatment provider indicating

30  that the offender has the lowest likelihood of risk to reoffend

31  before the court grants unsupervised contact between the parent

32  and a child.

33      (l) A court may order unsupervised contact between the parent

34  and a child which may occur in the presence of a juvenile

35  adjudicated of a sex offense listed in (e)(i) through (ix) of this

36  subsection who resides with the parent after the presumption under

37  (e) of this subsection has been rebutted and supervised visitation

38  has occurred for at least two years during which time the

                               p. 11                       HB 1054

_1  adjudicated juvenile has had no further arrests, adjudications, or

_2  convictions of sex offenses involving children under chapter 9A.44

_3  RCW, RCW 9A.64.020, or chapter 9.68A RCW, and (i) the court finds

_4  that unsupervised contact between the child and the parent that

_5  may occur in the presence of the adjudicated juvenile is

_6  appropriate and poses minimal risk to the child, after

_7  consideration of the testimony of a state-certified therapist,

_8  mental health counselor, or social worker with expertise in

_9  treatment of child sexual abuse victims who has supervised at

10  least one period of visitation between the parent and the child in

11  the presence of the adjudicated juvenile, and after consideration

12  of evidence of the adjudicated juvenile's compliance with

13  community supervision or parole requirements, if any.  If the

14  adjudicated juvenile was not ordered by a court to participate in

15  treatment for sex offenders, then the adjudicated juvenile shall

16  obtain a psychosexual evaluation conducted by a state-certified

17  sex offender treatment provider indicating that the adjudicated

18  juvenile has the lowest likelihood of risk to reoffend before the

19  court grants unsupervised contact between the parent and a child

20  which may occur in the presence of the adjudicated juvenile who is

21  residing with the parent.

22      (m)(i) The limitations imposed by the court under (a) or (b) of

23  this subsection shall be reasonably calculated to protect the

24  child from the physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or harm that

25  could result if the child has contact with the parent requesting

26  visitation.  If the court expressly finds based on the evidence that

27  limitations on visitation with the child will not adequately

28  protect the child from the harm or abuse that could result if the

29  child has contact with the parent requesting visitation, the court

30  shall restrain the person seeking visitation from all contact with

31  the child.

32      (ii) The court shall not enter an order under (a) of this

33  subsection allowing a parent to have contact with a child if the

34  parent has been found by clear and convincing evidence in a civil

35  action or by a preponderance of the evidence in a dependency

36  action to have sexually abused the child, except upon

37  recommendation by an evaluator or therapist for the child that the

38  child is ready for contact with the parent and will not be harmed

HB 1054                        p. 12

_1  by the contact.  The court shall not enter an order allowing a

_2  parent to have contact with the child in the offender's presence

_3  if the parent resides with a person who has been found by clear

_4  and convincing evidence in a civil action or by a preponderance of

_5  the evidence in a dependency action to have sexually abused a

_6  child, unless the court finds that the parent accepts that the

_7  person engaged in the harmful conduct and the parent is willing to

_8  and capable of protecting the child from harm from the person.

_9      (iii) If the court limits visitation under (a) or (b) of this

10  subsection to require supervised contact between the child and the

11  parent, the court shall not approve of a supervisor for contact

12  between a child and a parent who has engaged in physical, sexual,

13  or a pattern of emotional abuse of the child unless the court

14  finds based upon the evidence that the supervisor accepts that the

15  harmful conduct occurred and is willing to and capable of

16  protecting the child from harm.  The court shall revoke court

17  approval of the supervisor upon finding, based on the evidence,

18  that the supervisor has failed to protect the child or is no

19  longer willing to or capable of protecting the child.

20      (n) If the court expressly finds based on the evidence that

21  contact between the parent and the child will not cause physical,

22  sexual, or emotional abuse or harm to the child and that the

23  probability that the parent's or other person's harmful or abusive

24  conduct will recur is so remote that it would not be in the

25  child's best interests to apply the limitations of (a), (b), and

26  (m)(i) and (iii) of this subsection, or if the court expressly

27  finds that the parent's conduct did not have an impact on the

28  child, then the court need not apply the limitations of (a), (b),

29  and (m)(i) and (iii) of this subsection.  The weight given to the

30  existence of a protection order issued under chapter 26.50 RCW as

31  to domestic violence is within the discretion of the court.  This

32  subsection shall not apply when (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i),

33  (j), (k), (l), and (m)(ii) of this subsection apply.

34      (3) ((Any person may petition the court for visitation rights

35  at any time including, but not limited to, custody proceedings.

36  The court may order visitation rights for any person when

37  visitation may serve the best interest of the child whether or not

38  there has been any change of circumstances.

                               p. 13                       HB 1054

 

_1      (4))) The court may modify an order granting or denying

_2  visitation rights whenever modification would serve the best

_3  interests of the child.  Modification of a parent's visitation

_4  rights shall be subject to the requirements of subsection (2) of

_5  this section.

_6      (((5))) (4) For the purposes of this section, a parent's child

_7  means that parent's natural child, adopted child, or stepchild.

     

_8      NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.  This act is necessary for the immediate

_9  preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of

10  the state government and its existing public institutions, and

11  takes effect immediately.

 

‑‑‑ END ‑‑‑

HB 1054                        p. 14