LRB-2630/1
PJK&GMM:jlg:ch
1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE
March 26, 1999 - Printed by direction of Senate Chief Clerk.
AB108-engrossed,1,9 1An Act to renumber and amend 48.355 (3), 48.428 (6) and 938.355 (3); to
2amend
48.207 (1) (a), 48.207 (1) (b), 48.345 (3) (a), 48.345 (3) (b), 48.42 (1m) (b),
348.42 (1m) (c), 48.925 (1) (intro.), 767.245 (1), 880.155 (2), 938.207 (1) (a),
4938.207 (1) (b), 938.34 (3) (a) and 938.34 (3) (b); and to create 48.355 (3) (b),
548.357 (4d), 48.42 (1m) (e), 48.428 (6) (b), 48.925 (1m), 767.245 (1m), 767.245
6(6), 767.247, 767.325 (4m), 880.155 (3m), 880.155 (4m), 880.157, 938.355 (3) (b)
7and 938.357 (4d) of the statutes; relating to: prohibiting a parent or other
8person who intentionally kills a parent of a child from having visitation with
9or physical placement of the child.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Engrossment information:
The text of Engrossed 1999 Assembly Bill 108 consists of the bill, as passed by
the assembly on March 18, 1999, as affected by the following documents adopted in
the assembly on March 18, 1999: Assembly Amendment 1.
Content of Engrossed 1999 Assembly Bill 108:
Under current law, in a divorce or legal separation that involves a minor child,
the court must award legal custody of the child and allocate to the parents physical

placement with the child. The court may not deny a parent physical placement
unless the court finds that the physical placement would endanger the child's
physical, mental or emotional health. In an action affecting the family, the court may
grant visitation with a minor child to a grandparent, stepparent or person who has
had a relationship similar to a parent-child relationship with the child if the court
determines that the visitation is in the child's best interest. In a guardianship matter
that involves a minor child, the court may grant visitation rights to a grandparent
or stepparent of the child if one or both of the child's parents are deceased and the
court determines that the visitation is in the child's best interest.
This bill prohibits a court from granting visitation or physical placement rights
with a child to a parent of the child or to another person if that parent or other person
has been convicted of first-degree or second-degree intentional homicide of a parent
of the child. The prohibition applies in any action affecting the family that involves
the child and in any guardianship matter that involves the child. Additionally, a
court is required to modify an existing physical placement or visitation order by
denying physical placement or visitation with a child if the parent or other person
is convicted of first-degree or second-degree intentional homicide of the child's other
parent. The prohibition on the granting of physical placement or visitation applies
regardless of whether the conviction occurred before or occurs after the passage of
the bill, and the requirement to modify any physical placement or visitation order
applies regardless of when the conviction occurred or occurs and regardless of
whether the order exists when the bill is passed or is granted after the passage of the
bill. In all of these situations, however, the court may grant visitation or physical
placement, or refuse to modify an order that grants visitation or physical placement,
if the child wishes to have visitation or physical placement with the parent or other
person and is mature enough to make such a decision and if the visitation or physical
placement would be in the best interests of the child.
Under current law, the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under the
children's code and the juvenile justice code (juvenile court) may place a child or a
juvenile who is in need of temporary physical custody or who has been adjudged to
be delinquent or in need of protection or services in, among other placements, the
home of a parent or other relative of the child or, if the placement is for less than 30
days, the home of a guardian of the child. Also, under current law, if the juvenile
court places such a child or juvenile outside of his or her home, the juvenile court may
set reasonable rules of parental visitation if the juvenile court finds that parental
visitation would be in the best interests of the child. In addition, under current law,
the juvenile court may issue a temporary restraining order and injunction
prohibiting a parent against whom a petition for involuntary termination of parental
rights (TPR) has been filed from visitation or contact with the child and may order
or prohibit visitation by a birth parent of a child who has been placed in sustaining
care following a TPR. Finally, under current law, the juvenile court may grant
reasonable visitation rights to a relative, for example, a grandparent, who has
maintained a relationship similar to a parent-child relationship with a child who has
been adopted by a stepparent or relative.

This bill prohibits a juvenile court from placing a child or juvenile who is in need
of temporary physical custody or who has been adjudged to be delinquent or in need
of protection or services in the home of a parent, other relative or guardian of the
child or juvenile if the parent, other relative or guardian has been convicted of
first-degree or second-degree intentional homicide of a parent of the child. The bill
also requires a juvenile court, when a child or juvenile is placed in the home of a
parent by juvenile court order, to change the placement of the child or juvenile to a
placement outside of that home if the parent is convicted of first-degree or
second-degree intentional homicide of a parent of the child or juvenile.
In addition, the bill prohibits a juvenile court from granting visitation to a
parent of a child or juvenile who has been adjudged to be delinquent or in need of
protection or services, to a birth parent of a child who has been placed in sustaining
care following a TPR or to a relative who has maintained a relationship similar to
a parent-child relationship with a child if the parent, birth parent or relative has
been convicted of first-degree or second-degree intentional homicide of a parent of
the child or juvenile. The bill also requires a juvenile court, when such a parent, birth
parent or relative has previously been granted visitation, to issue an order
prohibiting any further visitation if the parent is convicted of first-degree or
second-degree intentional homicide of a parent of the child or juvenile.
Additionally, the bill requires a juvenile court, on petition, to prohibit a parent
against whom a petition for involuntary TPR has been filed from visitation or contact
with the child if the parent has been convicted of first-degree or second-degree
intentional homicide of the child's other parent.
The prohibition on the juvenile court placing a child or juvenile in the home of
a parent, other relative or guardian or granting visitation with a child or juvenile and
the requirement that a juvenile court prohibit any visitation or contact with a child
or juvenile apply regardless of when the conviction occurs. In all of these situations,
however, the juvenile court may grant visitation or placement, or refuse to issue an
order changing placement or prohibiting visitation, if the child or juvenile wishes to
have the visitation or placement and is mature enough to make such a decision and
if the visitation or placement would be in the best interests of the child or juvenile.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB108-engrossed, s. 1 1Section 1. 48.207 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB108-engrossed,4,42 48.207 (1) (a) The home of a parent or guardian, except that a child may not
3be held in the home of a parent or guardian if the parent or guardian has been
4convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05
5of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of a parent of the child, and the conviction

1has not been reversed, set aside or vacated, unless the person making the custody
2decision determines that the child desires to be held in the home of the parent or
3guardian and is sufficiently mature to make such a decision and that the placement
4would be in the best interests of the child
.
AB108-engrossed, s. 2 5Section 2. 48.207 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB108-engrossed,4,126 48.207 (1) (b) The home of a relative, except that a child may not be held in the
7home of a relative if the relative has been convicted under s. 940.01 of the
8first-degree intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional
9homicide, of a parent of the child, and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside
10or vacated, unless the person making the custody decision determines that the child
11desires to be held in the home of the relative and is sufficiently mature to make such
12a decision and that the placement would be in the best interests of the child
.
AB108-engrossed, s. 3 13Section 3. 48.345 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB108-engrossed,4,2214 48.345 (3) (a) The home of a parent or other relative of the child, except that
15the judge may not designate the home of a parent or other relative of the child as the
16child's placement if the parent or other relative has been convicted under s. 940.01
17of the first-degree intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree
18intentional homicide, of a parent of the child, and the conviction has not been
19reversed, set aside or vacated, unless the judge determines that the child desires to
20be placed in the home of the parent or other relative and is sufficiently mature to
21make such a decision and that the placement would be in the best interests of the
22child
.
AB108-engrossed, s. 4 23Section 4. 48.345 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB108-engrossed,5,724 48.345 (3) (b) A home which need not be The home of a person who is not
25required to be
licensed if placement is for less than 30 days, except that the judge may

1not designate the home of a person who is not required to be licensed as the child's
2placement if the person has been convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree
3intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of
4a parent of the child, and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside or vacated,
5unless the judge determines that the child desires to be placed in that home and is
6sufficiently mature to make such a decision and that the placement would be in the
7best interests of the child
.
AB108-engrossed, s. 5 8Section 5. 48.355 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 48.355 (3) (a) and amended
9to read:
AB108-engrossed,5,1310 48.355 (3) (a) If Except as provided in par. (b), if, after a hearing on the issue
11with due notice to the parent or guardian, the judge court finds that it would be in
12the best interest of the child, the judge court may set reasonable rules of parental
13visitation.
AB108-engrossed, s. 6 14Section 6. 48.355 (3) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB108-engrossed,5,1915 48.355 (3) (b) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., the court may not grant
16visitation under par. (a) to a parent of a child if the parent has been convicted under
17s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the
182nd-degree intentional homicide, of the child's other parent, and the conviction has
19not been reversed, set aside or vacated.
AB108-engrossed,6,320 1m. Except as provided in subd. 2., if a parent who is granted visitation rights
21with a child under par. (a) is convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional
22homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of the child's
23other parent, and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside or vacated, the court
24shall issue an order prohibiting the parent from having visitation with the child on
25petition of the child, the guardian or legal custodian of the child, a person or agency

1bound by the dispositional order or the district attorney or corporation counsel of the
2county in which the dispositional order was entered, or on the court's own motion,
3and on notice to the parent.
AB108-engrossed,6,64 2. Subdivisions 1. and 1m. do not apply if the court determines that the child
5desires to have visitation with the parent and is sufficiently mature to make such a
6decision and that the visitation would be in the best interests of the child.
AB108-engrossed, s. 7 7Section 7. 48.357 (4d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB108-engrossed,6,128 48.357 (4d) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the court may not change a child's
9placement to a placement in the home of a person who has been convicted under s.
10940.01 of the first-degree intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree
11intentional homicide, of a parent of the child, if the conviction has not been reversed,
12set aside or vacated.
AB108-engrossed,6,2113 (am) Except as provided in par (b), if a parent in whose home a child is placed
14is convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional homicide, or under s.
15940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of the child's other parent, and the
16conviction has not been reversed, set aside or vacated, the court shall change the
17child's placement to a placement out of the home of the parent on petition of the child,
18the guardian or legal custodian of the child, a person or agency bound by the
19dispositional order or the district attorney or corporation counsel of the county in
20which the dispositional order was entered, or on the court's own motion, and on notice
21to the parent.
AB108-engrossed,6,2422 (b) Paragraphs (a) and (am) do not apply if the court determines that the child
23desires to be placed in the home of the person and is sufficiently mature to make such
24a decision and that the placement would be in the best interests of the child.
AB108-engrossed, s. 8 25Section 8. 48.42 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB108-engrossed,7,6
148.42 (1m) (b) The Subject to par. (e), the court may issue the temporary order
2ex parte or may refuse to issue the temporary order and hold a hearing on whether
3to issue an injunction. The temporary order is in effect until a hearing is held on the
4issuance of an injunction. The court shall hold a hearing on the issuance of an
5injunction on or before the date of the hearing on the petition to terminate parental
6rights under s. 48.422 (1).
AB108-engrossed, s. 9 7Section 9. 48.42 (1m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB108-engrossed,7,148 48.42 (1m) (c) Notwithstanding any other order under s. 48.355 (3), the court,
9subject to par. (e),
may grant an injunction prohibiting the respondent from visiting
10or contacting the child if the court determines that the prohibition would be in the
11best interests of the child. An injunction under this subsection is effective according
12to its terms but may not remain in effect beyond the date the court dismisses the
13petition for termination of parental rights under s. 48.427 (2) or issues an order
14terminating parental rights under s. 48.427 (3).
AB108-engrossed, s. 10 15Section 10. 48.42 (1m) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
AB108-engrossed,7,2116 48.42 (1m) (e) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., the court shall issue a
17temporary order and injunction prohibiting a parent of a child from visitation or
18contact with the child if the parent has been convicted under s. 940.01 of the
19first-degree intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional
20homicide, of the child's other parent, and the conviction has not been reversed, set
21aside or vacated.
AB108-engrossed,7,2422 2. Subdivision 1. does not apply if the court determines that the child desires
23to have visitation or contact with the parent and is sufficiently mature to make such
24a decision and that the visitation or contact would be in the best interests of the child.
AB108-engrossed, s. 11
1Section 11. 48.428 (6) of the statutes is renumbered 48.428 (6) (a) and
2amended to read:
AB108-engrossed,8,43 48.428 (6) (a) The Except as provided in par. (b), the court may order or prohibit
4visitation by a birth parent of a child placed in sustaining care.
AB108-engrossed, s. 12 5Section 12. 48.428 (6) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB108-engrossed,8,116 48.428 (6) (b) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., the court may not grant
7visitation under par. (a) to a birth parent of a child who has been placed in sustaining
8care if the birth parent has been convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree
9intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of
10the child's other birth parent, and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside or
11vacated.
AB108-engrossed,8,2012 1m. Except as provided in subd. 2., if a birth parent who is granted visitation
13rights with a child under par. (a) is convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree
14intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of
15the child's other birth parent, and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside or
16vacated, the court shall issue an order prohibiting the birth parent from having
17visitation with the child on petition of the child, the guardian or legal custodian of
18the child, or the district attorney or corporation counsel of the county in which the
19dispositional order was entered, or on the court's own motion, and on notice to the
20birth parent.
AB108-engrossed,8,2321 2. Subdivisions 1. and 1m. do not apply if the court determines that the child
22desires to have visitation with the birth parent and is sufficiently mature to make
23such a decision and that the visitation would be in the best interests of the child.
AB108-engrossed, s. 13 24Section 13. 48.925 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB108-engrossed,9,8
148.925 (1) (intro.) Upon petition by a relative who has maintained a
2relationship similar to a parent-child relationship with a child who has been adopted
3by a stepparent or relative, the court, subject to subs. (1m) and (2), may grant
4reasonable visitation rights to that person if the petitioner has maintained such a
5relationship within 2 years prior to the filing of the petition, if the adoptive parent
6or parents, or, if a birth parent is the spouse of an adoptive parent, the adoptive
7parent and birth parent, have notice of the hearing and if the court determines all
8of the following:
AB108-engrossed, s. 14 9Section 14. 48.925 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB108-engrossed,9,1510 48.925 (1m) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the court may not grant
11visitation rights under sub. (1) to a relative who has maintained a relationship
12similar to a parent-child relationship with a child if the relative has been convicted
13under s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the
142nd-degree intentional homicide, of a parent of the child, and the conviction has not
15been reversed, set aside or vacated.
AB108-engrossed,9,2216 (am) Except as provided in par. (b), if a relative who is granted visitation rights
17with a child under sub. (1) is convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional
18homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of a parent of
19the child, and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside or vacated, the court
20shall issue an order prohibiting the relative from having visitation with the child on
21petition of the child or the parent, guardian or legal custodian of the child, or on the
22court's own motion, and on notice to the relative.
AB108-engrossed,9,2523 (b) Paragraphs (a) and (am) do not apply if the court determines that the child
24desires to have visitation with the relative and is sufficiently mature to make such
25a decision and that the visitation would be in the best interests of the child.
AB108-engrossed, s. 15
1Section 15. 767.245 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB108-engrossed,10,62 767.245 (1) Except as provided in sub. subs. (1m) and (2m), upon petition by
3a grandparent, greatgrandparent, stepparent or person who has maintained a
4relationship similar to a parent-child relationship with the child, the court may
5grant reasonable visitation rights to that person if the parents have notice of the
6hearing and if the court determines that visitation is in the best interest of the child.
AB108-engrossed, s. 16 7Section 16. 767.245 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB108-engrossed,10,128 767.245 (1m) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the court may not grant
9visitation rights under sub. (1) to a person who has been convicted under s. 940.01
10of the first-degree intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree
11intentional homicide, of a parent of the child, and the conviction has not been
12reversed, set aside or vacated.
AB108-engrossed,10,1513 (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply if the court determines that the child desires
14to have visitation with the person and is sufficiently mature to make such a decision
15and that the visitation would be in the best interests of the child.
AB108-engrossed, s. 16m 16Section 16m. 767.245 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
AB108-engrossed,10,2317 767.245 (6) (a) If a person granted visitation rights with a child under this
18section is convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional homicide, or under
19s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of a parent of the child, and the
20conviction has not been reversed, set aside or vacated, the court shall modify the
21visitation order by denying visitation with the child upon petition, motion or order
22to show cause by a parent or guardian of the child, or upon the court's own motion,
23and upon notice to the person granted visitation rights.
AB108-engrossed,11,3
1(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply if the court determines that the child desires
2to have visitation with the person and is sufficiently mature to make such a decision
3and that the visitation would be in the best interests of the child.
AB108-engrossed, s. 17 4Section 17. 767.247 of the statutes is created to read:
AB108-engrossed,11,12 5767.247 Prohibiting visitation or physical placement if a parent kills
6other parent.
(1) Notwithstanding ss. 767.23 (1) (am), 767.24 (1), (4) and (5),
7767.51 (3) and 767.62 (4) (a) and except as provided in sub. (2), in an action under this
8chapter that affects a minor child, a court or family court commissioner may not
9grant to the child's parent visitation or physical placement rights with the child if the
10parent has been convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional homicide,
11or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of the child's other parent,
12and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside or vacated.
AB108-engrossed,11,16 13(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the court or family court commissioner
14determines that the child desires to have visitation or periods of physical placement
15with the parent and is sufficiently mature to make such a decision and that the
16visitation or periods of physical placement would be in the best interests of the child.
AB108-engrossed, s. 18 17Section 18. 767.325 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB108-engrossed,11,2418 767.325 (4m) Denial of physical placement for killing other parent. (a)
19Notwithstanding subs. (1) to (4), upon petition, motion or order to show cause by a
20party or on its own motion, a court shall modify a physical placement order by
21denying a parent physical placement with a child if the parent has been convicted
22under s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the
232nd-degree intentional homicide, of the child's other parent, and the conviction has
24not been reversed, set aside or vacated.
AB108-engrossed,12,4
1(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply if the court determines that the child desires
2to have physical placement with the parent and is sufficiently mature to make such
3a decision and that physical placement with the parent would be in the best interests
4of the child.
AB108-engrossed, s. 19 5Section 19. 880.155 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB108-engrossed,12,156 880.155 (2) If one or both parents of a minor child are deceased and the child
7is in the custody of the surviving parent or any other person, a grandparent or
8stepparent of the child may petition for visitation privileges with respect to the child,
9whether or not the person with custody is married. The grandparent or stepparent
10may file the petition in a guardianship or temporary guardianship proceeding under
11this chapter that affects the minor child or may file the petition to commence an
12independent action under this chapter. The Except as provided in sub. (3m), the
13court may grant reasonable visitation privileges to the grandparent or stepparent if
14the surviving parent or other person who has custody of the child has notice of the
15hearing and if the court determines that visitation is in the best interest of the child.
AB108-engrossed, s. 20 16Section 20. 880.155 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB108-engrossed,12,2117 880.155 (3m) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the court may not grant
18visitation privileges to a grandparent or stepparent under this section if the
19grandparent or stepparent has been convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree
20intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of
21a parent of the child, and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside or vacated.
AB108-engrossed,12,2522 (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply if the court determines that the child desires
23to have visitation with the grandparent or stepparent and is sufficiently mature to
24make such a decision and that the visitation would be in the best interests of the
25child.
AB108-engrossed, s. 20m
1Section 20m. 880.155 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB108-engrossed,13,92 880.155 (4m) (a) If a grandparent or stepparent granted visitation privileges
3with respect to a child under this section is convicted under s. 940.01 of the
4first-degree intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional
5homicide, of a parent of the child, and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside
6or vacated, the court shall modify the visitation order by denying visitation with the
7child upon petition, motion or order to show cause by a person having custody of the
8child, or upon the court's own motion, and upon notice to the grandparent or
9stepparent granted visitation privileges.
AB108-engrossed,13,1310 (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply if the court determines that the child desires
11to have visitation with the grandparent or stepparent and is sufficiently mature to
12make such a decision and that the visitation would be in the best interests of the
13child.
AB108-engrossed, s. 21 14Section 21. 880.157 of the statutes is created to read:
Loading...
Loading...