Downloads
HB 1119 — Grandparent Visitation Rights
by Rep. Toledo and others (CS/CS/SB 1408 by Rules Committee; Judiciary Committee; and Senators Perry, Rouson, and Book)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Judiciary Committee (JU)
The bill amends Florida’s “Grandparental Visitation Rights” law to include an additional situation where a grandparent may petition for reasonable visitation with his or her grandchild. Specifically, the bill creates a presumption that a court may award a grandparent reasonable visitation with a grandchild in cases where a court has found that one parent of a child is criminally liable for the death of the other parent of the child or is civilly liable for an intentional tort causing the death of the other parent of the child. This presumption would only apply to the grandparents who are the parents of the grandchild’s deceased parent. A court may decline to grant these visitation rights if visitation is not in the best interest of the child.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2022.
Vote: Senate 37-0; House 112-3