State lawmakers weigh nonparental visitation
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Washington state lawmakers are considering a measure to make it easier for grandparents and others with a close relationship to a child to secure visitation rights.
The bill, which was heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday morning, has bipartisan support but faces opposition from those who view it as an attack on parental rights.
The main proponents of the bill are grandparents who have been cut off from their grandchildren.
Ruth Wade, 69, of Lacey, said her greatest regret is that she has not been allowed into the life of her great-granddaughter.
"I have missed out on all of her firsts, and unless this bill is passed I feel I might miss out on her first kiss, her first date, her fist high school prom and all these things," Wade said.
Opponents of the measure said that parents should have the right to decide what is best for their children unless the state determines that they are unfit to do so.
"The Legislature cannot mediate every family feud and every argument that adults end up in that affects children," said Joseph Backholm, executive director of the socially conservative Family Policy Institute of Washington. "There has to be a limit."
House Bill 1506 would allow courts to grant visitation to a third party who can demonstrate an ongoing and substantial relationship with a child that if severed would likely lead to the child being harmed.
In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Washington state's laws granting visitation rights to third parties when found to be in the child's best interest infringed on the fundamental liberty of parents.
Five years later, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that a third party - typically an estranged same-sex partner of a biological or adoptive parent - who can demonstrate a permanent and unequivocal parent-child relationship can be granted the status of "de facto parent."
Under current law, parents must be deemed unfit before other third parties can get visitation against the parents' will.
The bill, which was heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday morning, has bipartisan support but faces opposition from those who view it as an attack on parental rights.
The main proponents of the bill are grandparents who have been cut off from their grandchildren.
Ruth Wade, 69, of Lacey, said her greatest regret is that she has not been allowed into the life of her great-granddaughter.
"I have missed out on all of her firsts, and unless this bill is passed I feel I might miss out on her first kiss, her first date, her fist high school prom and all these things," Wade said.
Opponents of the measure said that parents should have the right to decide what is best for their children unless the state determines that they are unfit to do so.
"The Legislature cannot mediate every family feud and every argument that adults end up in that affects children," said Joseph Backholm, executive director of the socially conservative Family Policy Institute of Washington. "There has to be a limit."
House Bill 1506 would allow courts to grant visitation to a third party who can demonstrate an ongoing and substantial relationship with a child that if severed would likely lead to the child being harmed.
In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Washington state's laws granting visitation rights to third parties when found to be in the child's best interest infringed on the fundamental liberty of parents.
Five years later, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that a third party - typically an estranged same-sex partner of a biological or adoptive parent - who can demonstrate a permanent and unequivocal parent-child relationship can be granted the status of "de facto parent."
Under current law, parents must be deemed unfit before other third parties can get visitation against the parents' will.
They should rename this to the "Jerry Sandusky Act", because that's the kind of people this bill will empower.  This is not about grandparents,  It's about anyone who knows the law.  Right now it is HB 1934.  And has tremendous support..  PLEASE e-mail the sponsors,  here is a list.   Jamie.Pedersen@leg.wa.gov Terry.Nealey@leg.wa.gov mike.hope@leg.wa.gov Ruth.Kagi@leg.wa.gov Norm.Johnson@leg.wa.gov Roger.Goodman@leg.wa.gov Drew.Hansen@leg.wa.gov Tina.Orwall@leg.wa.gov Gerry.Pollet@leg.wa.gov Sherry.Appleton@leg.wa.gov Sam.Hunt@leg.wa.gov Marcie.Maxwell@leg.wa.gov Timm.Ormsby@leg.wa.gov Laurie.Jinkins@leg.wa.gov Tami.Green@leg.wa.gov Dawn.Morrell@leg.wa.gov  Larry.Seaquist@leg.wa.gov Kathy.Haigh@leg.wa.gov Zack.Hudgins@leg.wa.gov Eric.Pettigrew@leg.wa.gov Gael.Tarleton@leg.wa.gov Mike.Sells@leg.wa.gov Norma.Smith@leg.wa.gov Chris.Reykdal@leg.wa.gov David.Sawyer@leg.wa.gov Jeff.Morris@leg.wa.gov Hans.Dunshee@leg.wa.gov Chad.Magendanz@leg.wa.gov Ross.Hunter@leg.wa.gov Sharon.Wylie@leg.wa.gov Marko.Liias@leg.wa.gov Susan.Fagan@leg.wa.gov Dave.Upthegrove@leg.wa.gov Jessyn.Farrell@leg.wa.gov Dean.Takko@leg.wa.gov Cindy.Ryu@leg.wa.gov Marcus.Riccelli@leg.wa.gov Steve.Bergquist@leg.wa.gov Roger.Freeman@leg.wa.gov Cyrus.Habib@leg.wa.gov Kevin.VanDeWege@leg.wa.gov Larry.Haler@leg.wa.gov Judy.Clibborn@leg.wa.gov Pat.Sullivan@leg.wa.gov Maureen.Walsh@leg.wa.gov Steve.Tharinger@leg.wa.gov Jim.Moeller@leg.wa.gov Brian.Blake@leg.wa.gov Eileen.Cody@leg.wa.gov Larry.Springer@leg.wa.gov Kristine.Lytton@leg.wa.gov John.McCoy@leg.wa.gov Derek.Stanford@leg.wa.gov Luis.Moscoso@leg.wa.gov reuven.carlyle@leg.wa.gov joe.fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov maryhelen.roberts@leg.wa.gov
Giving ammunition to third parties to see my kids if I don't want them around is wrong... if the kids want to see this individual they will reach out to them on their own.. we don't need Olympia butting in or wasting time on something like this! ... seriously no wonder things never get done because they waste time on BS such as this!...they cannot even balance a budget...if they were a third party relative of my child I wouldn't what my kids having anything to do with someone working in Olympia either!
There are reasons why people are excluded from a child's life. Often times it is in the child's best interest even if the person who is being excluded does NOTÂ agree with it. To be honest who is going to agree that being left out is fun and that they could possibly be the one causing the strife or discord in a dysfunctional relationship?
Even if the person who is being excluded happens to be the one who is not the CAUSE of the problems, they are not the parents. The parents are the ones who have to raise the child in the best situation they can. If that means removing someone to remove a source of stress and strife then that is what happens. Do not go to court over it. Be adults and solve the strife!
It is the PARENTS job to decide who is allowed to be in a child's life, not the courts. As long as the parents have not been deemed dangerous then there is no reason for anyone to be dragged through the system. Olympia needs to but out of the drama and people need to grow up.
Although i can understand the pain the grandmother in this story is going thru sine she sounds like a loving grandother I do not agree with this bill. Most of the time when a child is kept away from certain family members there is a good reason for it. I am raising my 8 year old son by myself and I would keep my sons fathers side of the family away from him IF they ever tried to have a relationship with him which of course they haven't. Literally everyone on his fathers side of the family except for 1 person is always in jail, prostituting, fighting cps to get their kids back, drunk or high and I refuse to expose my son to trash. I am his mother and I have raised him on my own his whole life. He is in 3rd grade but at a 5th grade level. He is loved unconditionally by my family and is probably one of the happiest kids you could ever meet. I am his only parent and I will proudly say that i have done a damn good job!! My son is my world and no one will ever try to tell me what I am going to do as a parent.
As an aunt whose sisters uses their children as weapons, I support this law. I've practically raised two of my nieces and then was cut out of their lives with no fan-fare when the father came sniffing back around. I'm very close to my other three nieces and their mother takes it upon herself to cut me out of their lives for months long stretches when we disagree on anything. You may see it as infringement on parents' rights, but not every parent is responsible and not every parent is jusified in cutting established relationships based on their whims.
Wow, Olympia wants to take over raising children now and decide what's best for them. How is this different from a socialist kibbutz?Â
It's up to the parent who the child can see or not see. There are good reasons I do not subject my children to certain family members.
Olympia just has too much time on their hands.
I have cut my parents out of my kids life. Â It's mainly because they attract too much drama in their life. Â About two years ago I said enough and removed my parents from our circle of trust. The relationship was simply not a positive one for myself, my wife or kids. Â
Any politician that supports this will basically tell me the responsible parent that I don't have the right to do look out for my children's best interest. Â Sorry Olympia but you are not my Nanny. Â Why don't you stupid politicians do what you are legally obligated to do. Â Pass a budget and live within your means. Â Cut the crap and stop interfering in our lives. Â
 @CB where were ones like you since 1980s parents have been fighting helplessly to make family's thank you ! and kick start our hearts.
And the politicians fart around with this crap rather than passing a working budget...AGAIN.... And why did anyone out there vote for and incumbents??? The sheeple of this state do it to themselves again....
 @bustedupredneck I haven't voted for an incumbent in decades.
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@NicholeGibbs10 You have been reported spammer.
 @NicholeGibbs10 congratulations. Since you making big money now will you loan me a couple thousand dollars, so i can get my hair done?
I missed out spending time with a child that I spent a lot of time at a early age with and she called me Dad. Mom could never do anything her parents didn't like and I wanted her to think for herself. I got pushed out and while I had contact with mom via phone and internet I missed out on the one on one time and the important moments . I never have or will forget that little girl. she is now 28, mom never married and passed away way to early, grandma and grandpa are also gone this leaves her without a family and me without her in my life. A visitation law would have made a difference!
 @wardog sorry, that sounds a bit creepy. Be a man and go father your own child.
I'd rather see them get the budget approved without a special session.
I wonder if this will be retroactive to those where the relationship was severed through bogus and malicious means by the custodial parent.
I don't get it. The U.S. Supreme court squashed it before, but let's try again?Â
Ok. Maybe I get it. Prove the kids' liberties are being infringed then it doesn't matter for the parents'... Makes sense.Â
Tell me again how this is isn't a socialist administration??