Blind parents; custody or visitation rights.
Summary
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.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2017
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 11, 2017
Last action Feb 7, 2017
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
5
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Jan 18, 2017
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee recommends laying on the table by voice vote
legislature
Jan 16, 2017
Committee
Assigned Courts sub: Civil Law
legislature
Jan 11, 2017
Committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
legislature
Jan 11, 2017
Introduced
Presented and ordered printed 17102217D
legislature
1 primary · 11 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Dave LaRock
RRepublican
Co
Buddy Fowler
RRepublican
Co
Christopher E. Collins
RRepublican
Co
Daun S. Hester
DDemocratic
Co
Kathleen Murphy
DDemocratic
Co
Kaye Kory
DDemocratic
Co
L. Mark Dudenhefer
RRepublican
Co
L. Scott Lingamfelter
RRepublican
Co
Mark L. Cole
RRepublican
Co
Matt Fariss
RRepublican
Co
Patrick Hope
DDemocratic
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