Bill Text: HI SCR102 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requesting The Hawaii State Judiciary And Department Of Human Services To Not Use Blindness As A Basis For Denying Parental Rights.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-03-28 - Report adopted, referred to JDC. [SCR102 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-SCR102-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	102
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the hawaii state judiciary and department of human services to not use blindness as a basis for denying parental rights.

 

 

     WHEREAS, blind individuals face certain preconceived biases and attitudes in family and dependency law proceedings where custody and visitation are at stake and in public and private adoption, guardianship, and foster care proceedings; and

 

     WHEREAS, some children of blind parents are unnecessarily being removed from their parents' care or restricted from enjoying meaningful time with their parents as a result of these preconceived biases and attitudes; and

 

     WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind estimates that as many as one in four households in which the parents are blind have been visited by workers from child protection services; and

 

     WHEREAS, the safety of children must be balanced with respect for differences in religion, culture, ethnicity, race, disability, and sexual orientation; and

 

     WHEREAS, blindness itself does not preclude a parent's ability to raise kids; and

 

     WHEREAS, blind parents use alternative techniques, which are variations on methods that are based on touch and hearing rather than sight, to accomplish some tasks; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is research showing that children of blind parents can perform better, on average, than those with sighted parents in certain aspects; and

 

     WHEREAS, thousands of blind parents have raised healthy children who have grown into responsible, productive adults; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Hawaii State Judiciary and Department of Human Services are requested to not use:

 

     (1)  A parent's blindness as a basis for denial or restriction of visitation or custody in family or dependency law cases when the visitation or custody is determined to be in the best interest of the child;

 

     (2)  A prospective parent's blindness as a basis for the prospective parent's denial of participation in public or private adoption when the adoption is determined to be in the best interest of the child; or

 

     (3)  An individual's blindness as a basis for denial of foster care or guardianship when the appointment is determined to be in the best interest of the child; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if a parent or prospective parent's blindness is alleged to have a detrimental impact on a child, the Hawaii State Judiciary and Department of Human Services are requested to:

 

     (1)  Place the burden of proof on the party raising the allegation by requesting clear and convincing evidence that the behaviors are endangering or will likely endanger the health, safety, or welfare of the child; and

 

     (2)  Provide the blind parent or prospective parent the opportunity to demonstrate how the implementation of supportive parenting services can alleviate any concerns that have been raised; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chief Justice, Administrative Director of the Courts, and Director of Human Services.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Right to Parent; Blind Person