Topic:
Grandparents' visitation
(Cavaletto, R-Salem). Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Provides that a grandparent may file a petition for reasonable visitation rights to a minor child living in a dual-parent household if there is an unreasonable denial of visitation by a parent and the grandparent has maintained a significant beneficial relationship with the child for a period of 12 months or more immediately preceding the severance of that relationship by the parent. The relationship must have been unreasonably severed by the parent or parents for reasons other than abuse or presence of a danger of substantial harm to the child. Creates a presumption of a significant beneficial relationship arises if: (1) the child resided with the petitioner grandparent for at least six consecutive months with or without the current custodian present during the 12-month period; (2) the petitioner grandparent had frequent or regular contact or visitation with the child throughout the 12-month period; or (3) the petitioner grandparent was the primary caretaker of the child for a period or not less than six consecutive months within the 12-month period. Just introduced and referred to the House Rules Committee. Just introduced and referred to House Rules Committee.