03/17/1995 02:59 PM Senate JUD

 SJUD - 3/17/95                                                                
           SB 27 MISC. GRANDPARENT VISITATION RIGHTS                          
                                                                              
 SENATOR DONLEY, sponsor of SSSB 27, presented the following                   
 comments to the committee.  A similar measure has passed both the             
 House and Senate, but not in the same year.  Currently, Alaska is             
 the only state that does not give legal status to grandparents to             
 request visitation rights of their grandchildren.  The judge would            
 only take action if it was in the best interest of the children.              
 SSSB 27 merely allows grandparents to ask for permission.                     
                                                                               
 Number 544                                                                    
                                                                               
 SENATOR GREEN asked what kinds of problems have occurred in other             
 states as a result of this legislation.  She questioned whether the           
 law would complicate cumbersome custody issues.  SENATOR DONLEY               
 replied grandparents sometimes take sides in divorce cases, and one           
 parent may not want the spouse's grandparents to have access to the           
 children.  SSSB 27 does not compel access to the children, it gives           
 the grandparents legal status to ask the court for access to the              
 children.                                                                     
                                                                               
 Number 559                                                                    
                                                                               
 MS. TIBBLES strongly supported SSSB 27.  She commented there are              
 many times when divorce creates alienation and hostility within a             
 family, and when the children need some consistency, it is often              
 the grandparents who can provide support for the children.                    
                                                                               
 Number 569                                                                    
                                                                               
 FONA HALL testified in support of SSSB 27 on behalf of AARP.  She             
 discussed her own situation with absentee and local grandchildren             
 and stated SSSB 27 kicks in when visitation is denied.                        
                                                                               
 SENATOR GREEN moved SSSB 27 out of committee with individual                  
 recommendations.  There being no objection, the motion carried.               
                                                                               
 There being no further business before the committee, SENATOR                 
 TAYLOR adjourned the meeting at 3:47 p.m.