Bill Text: FL S0956 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Grandparent Visitation

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2024-03-08 - Died in Judiciary [S0956 Detail]

Download: Florida-2024-S0956-Introduced.html
       Florida Senate - 2024                                     SB 956
       
       
        
       By Senator Thompson
       
       
       
       
       
       15-01265-24                                            2024956__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to grandparent visitation; amending s.
    3         752.011, F.S.; revising the criteria required for the
    4         grandparent of a minor child to petition the court for
    5         grandparent visitation; conforming provisions to
    6         changes made by the act; making technical changes;
    7         providing an effective date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Section 752.011, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   12  read:
   13         752.011 Petition for grandparent visitation with a minor
   14  child.—A grandparent of a minor child whose parents are
   15  deceased, missing, or in a persistent vegetative state, or whose
   16  one parent is deceased, missing, or in a persistent vegetative
   17  state and whose other parent has been convicted of a felony or
   18  an offense of violence evincing behavior that poses a
   19  substantial threat of harm to the minor child’s health or
   20  welfare, may petition the court for court-ordered visitation
   21  with the grandchild under this section if one or both of the
   22  minor child’s parents are deceased, missing, or in a persistent
   23  vegetative state.
   24         (1) Upon the filing of a petition by a grandparent for
   25  visitation, the court shall hold a preliminary hearing to
   26  determine whether the petitioner has made a prima facie showing
   27  that one or both of the minor child’s parents are deceased,
   28  missing, or in a persistent vegetative state of parental
   29  unfitness or significant harm to the child. Absent such a
   30  showing, the court shall dismiss the petition and may award
   31  reasonable attorney fees and costs to be paid by the petitioner
   32  to the respondent.
   33         (2)Notwithstanding subsection (1), if the court finds that
   34  one parent of a child has been held criminally liable for the
   35  death of the other parent of the child or civilly liable for an
   36  intentional tort causing the death of the other parent of the
   37  child, there is a presumption for granting reasonable visitation
   38  with the petitioning grandparent or stepgrandparent if he or she
   39  is the parent of the child’s deceased parent. This presumption
   40  may only be overcome if the court finds that granting such
   41  visitation is not in the best interests of the child.
   42         (2)(3) If the court finds that there is prima facie
   43  evidence that one or both of the minor child’s parents are
   44  deceased, missing, or in a persistent vegetative state a parent
   45  is unfit or that there is significant harm to the child, the
   46  court may appoint a guardian ad litem and must shall refer the
   47  matter to family mediation as provided in s. 752.015. If family
   48  mediation does not successfully resolve the issue of grandparent
   49  visitation, the court must shall proceed with a final hearing.
   50         (3)(4) After conducting a final hearing on the issue of
   51  visitation, the court may award reasonable visitation to the
   52  grandparent with respect to the minor child if the court finds
   53  by clear and convincing evidence that one or both of the minor
   54  child’s parents are deceased, missing, or in a persistent
   55  vegetative state a parent is unfit or that there is significant
   56  harm to the child, that visitation is in the best interest of
   57  the minor child, and that the visitation will not materially
   58  harm the parent-child relationship, if one exists.
   59         (4)(5) In assessing the best interests of the child under
   60  subsection (3)(4), the court shall consider the totality of the
   61  circumstances affecting the mental and emotional well-being of
   62  the minor child, including:
   63         (a) The love, affection, and other emotional ties existing
   64  between the minor child and the grandparent, including those
   65  resulting from the relationship that had been previously allowed
   66  by the child’s parent.
   67         (b) The length and quality of the previous relationship
   68  between the minor child and the grandparent, including the
   69  extent to which the grandparent was involved in providing
   70  regular care and support for the child.
   71         (c) Whether the grandparent established ongoing personal
   72  contact with the minor child before the death of the parent,
   73  before the onset of the parent’s persistent vegetative state, or
   74  before the parent was missing.
   75         (d) The reasons cited by the respondent parent in ending
   76  contact or visitation between the minor child and the
   77  grandparent.
   78         (e) Whether there has been significant and demonstrable
   79  mental or emotional harm to the minor child as a result of the
   80  disruption in the family unit, whether the child derived support
   81  and stability from the grandparent, and whether the continuation
   82  of such support and stability is likely to prevent further harm.
   83         (f) The existence or threat to the minor child of mental
   84  injury as defined in s. 39.01.
   85         (g) The present mental, physical, and emotional health of
   86  the minor child.
   87         (h) The present mental, physical, and emotional health of
   88  the grandparent.
   89         (i) The recommendations of the minor child’s guardian ad
   90  litem, if one is appointed.
   91         (j) The result of any psychological evaluation of the minor
   92  child.
   93         (k) The preference of the minor child if the child is
   94  determined to be of sufficient maturity to express a preference.
   95         (l) A written testamentary statement by the deceased parent
   96  regarding visitation with the grandparent. The absence of a
   97  testamentary statement is not deemed to provide evidence that
   98  the deceased or missing parent or parent in a persistent
   99  vegetative state would have objected to the requested
  100  visitation.
  101         (m) Other factors that the court considers necessary to
  102  making its determination.
  103         (5)(6) In assessing material harm to the parent-child
  104  relationship under subsection (3)(4), the court shall consider
  105  the totality of the circumstances affecting the parent-child
  106  relationship, including:
  107         (a) Whether there have been previous disputes between the
  108  grandparent and the parent over childrearing or other matters
  109  related to the care and upbringing of the minor child.
  110         (b) Whether visitation would materially interfere with or
  111  compromise parental authority.
  112         (c) Whether visitation can be arranged in a manner that
  113  does not materially detract from the parent-child relationship,
  114  including the quantity of time available for enjoyment of the
  115  parent-child relationship and any other consideration related to
  116  disruption of the schedule and routine of the parent and the
  117  minor child.
  118         (d) Whether visitation is being sought for the primary
  119  purpose of continuing or establishing a relationship with the
  120  minor child with the intent that the child benefit from the
  121  relationship.
  122         (e) Whether the requested visitation would expose the minor
  123  child to conduct, moral standards, experiences, or other factors
  124  that are inconsistent with influences provided by the parent.
  125         (f) The nature of the relationship between the child’s
  126  parent and the grandparent.
  127         (g) The reasons cited by the parent in ending contact or
  128  visitation between the minor child and the grandparent which was
  129  previously allowed by the parent.
  130         (h) The psychological toll of visitation disputes on the
  131  minor child.
  132         (i) Other factors that the court considers necessary in
  133  making its determination.
  134         (6)(7) Part II of chapter 61 applies to actions brought
  135  under this section.
  136         (7)(8) If actions under this section and s. 61.13 are
  137  pending concurrently, the courts are strongly encouraged to
  138  consolidate the actions in order to minimize the burden of
  139  litigation on the minor child and the other parties.
  140         (8)(9) An order for grandparent visitation may be modified
  141  upon a showing by the person petitioning for modification that a
  142  substantial change in circumstances has occurred and that
  143  modification of visitation is in the best interest of the minor
  144  child.
  145         (9)(10) An original action requesting visitation under this
  146  section may be filed by a grandparent only once during any 2
  147  year period, except on good cause shown that the minor child is
  148  suffering, or may suffer, significant and demonstrable mental or
  149  emotional harm caused by a parental decision to deny visitation
  150  between a minor child and the grandparent, which was not known
  151  to the grandparent at the time of filing an earlier action.
  152         (10)(11) This section does not provide for grandparent
  153  visitation with a minor child placed for adoption under chapter
  154  63 except as provided in s. 752.071 with respect to adoption by
  155  a stepparent or close relative.
  156         (11)(12) Venue shall be in the county where the minor child
  157  primarily resides, unless venue is otherwise governed by chapter
  158  39, chapter 61, or chapter 63.
  159         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.

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