Measure to reinforce the rights of biological, adoptive parents advances

A measure to reinforce the rights of biological and adoptive parents over all others will move forward to the full House after an affirmative committee vote Thursday morning.

Sponsored by Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, HB148 would prevent courts from using an established legal doctrine called "in loco parentis" to award parental rights such as custody or visitation to other adults against the wishes of a biological parent. It also allows the parent to halt such arrangements at any time.

A move to have the measure referred to a legislative committee that studies issues involving children's welfare failed Thursday, and HB148 ultimately passed by a vote of 8-3.

Critics of the bill — which Christensen proposed in response to a case in which a Utah woman was granted visitation with her former lesbian partner's biological daughter — say it could jeopardize situations involving step-parents and grandparents and fails to take into account the best interests of children.

"I don't see anything good in it for children," Salt Lake family law attorney Lauren Barros told members of the House Judiciary Committee Thursday.