SB 1199 Virginia Senate · 2017 Regular Session

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 findings where the court denies or restricts custody or visitation of a blind parent or where supportive parenting services are not ordered, and to provide such findings in an accessible format. 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 10, 2017 Last action Feb 21, 2017
Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
12
Key actions
0
Committee
6
Feb 13, 2017
Legislature · Reported by committee
Subcommittee recommends laying on the table by voice vote
Feb 9, 2017
Legislature · Referred to committee
Assigned Courts sub: Civil Law
Feb 9, 2017
Legislature · Referred to committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Feb 6, 2017
Legislature · Reported by committee
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB1199S1
Feb 6, 2017
Legislature · Reported by committee
Committee substitute agreed to 17104405D-S1
Jan 10, 2017
Legislature · Referred to committee
Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
Jan 10, 2017
Legislature · Introduced
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/17 17103085D
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors