The bill amends Section 752.011 of the Florida Statutes to authorize grandparents of minor children to petition for court-ordered visitation under specific circumstances. These circumstances include situations where the child's parents are deceased, missing, or in a persistent vegetative state, as well as cases where one parent is in such a condition and the other parent has a felony conviction or poses a substantial threat to the child's welfare. The bill outlines the criteria for petitioning, including the requirement that the child must have lived with the grandparent for at least six months prior to the parent's condition and that denying visitation would pose a substantial threat to the child's well-being.

Additionally, the bill makes technical changes and reenacts related statutes concerning mediation of visitation disputes and the effects of adoption by a stepparent or close relative. It emphasizes the importance of mediation in resolving visitation issues and establishes a presumption in favor of grandparent visitation if one parent has been criminally liable for the death of the other parent. The bill also specifies that venue for petitions should be in the county where the child primarily resides and sets forth conditions under which visitation orders can be modified or terminated. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 607 Filed: 752.011