A bid to strengthen grandparents' ability to petition to see their grandchildren over a parent's objection was supported by a Senate committee Wednesday.
House Bill 1773 would flip the burden of proof onto parents to show that grandparents should not be allowed to visit the children. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill on a voice vote, sending it to the full Senate.
The bill is one of two dealing with grandparents' rights by Rep. Laurie Rushing, R-Hot Springs. Rushing told the committee she has lost contact with her grandchildren since her daughter's death, after their father chose to take them out of state.
Rushing said HB1773 would not help her case, because her grandchildren are not in Arkansas.
-- John Moritz
