Bill Text: CT HB06453 | 2011 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Establishing A Task Force To Study Grandparents' Visitation Rights.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 19-9-1)
Status: (Passed) 2011-07-13 - Signed by the Governor [HB06453 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2011-HB06453-Chaptered.html
Substitute House Bill No. 6453
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY GRANDPARENTS' VISITATION RIGHTS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force to study issues related to visitation rights for grandparents. Such study shall include, but not be limited to, an examination of (1) the legal and social issues related to grandparents' access to visitation, (2) the impact of the loss of contact on families, (3) social supports to promote the continuation of these relationships, and (4) legislative proposals that are consistent with the state constitution.
(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:
(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of an advocacy group representing the interests of grandparents seeking visitation rights;
(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who shall be a representative of an advocacy group representing the interests of children;
(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of a Connecticut legal services program and who has experience working in family law;
(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be a representative of the family law section of the Connecticut Bar Association;
(5) Three appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, one who shall be an attorney who has experience representing the interests of parents and two who shall be chosen from the ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging or the judiciary or of the select committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children;
(6) Three appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, one who shall be a social work professional and two who shall be chosen from the ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging or the judiciary or of the select committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children;
(7) The chairs of the joint committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging, or their designees;
(8) The chairs of the joint committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary, or their designees;
(9) The chairs of the select committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, or their designees;
(10) A representative of the family law division of the Judicial Branch; and
(11) The Commissioner of Children and Families, or the commissioner's designee.
(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member of the General Assembly.
(d) All appointments to the task force shall be made not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority.
(e) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force, from among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section.
(f) The administrative staff of the Commission on Aging shall serve as administrative staff of the task force, within available appropriations.
(g) Not later than February 1, 2012, the task force shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations, including any recommendations for legislation to enhance visitation rights for grandparents, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging and the judiciary and to the select committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that it submits such report or February 1, 2012, whichever is later.