40-9-102. Grandparent-grandchild contact. (1) Except as provided in subsection (5), the district court may grant to a grandparent of a child reasonable rights to contact with the child, including but not limited to rights regarding a child who is the subject of, or as to whom a disposition has been made during, an administrative or court proceeding under Title 41 or this title. The department of public health and human services must be given notice of a petition for grandparent-grandchild contact regarding a child who is the subject of, or as to whom a disposition has been made during, an administrative or court proceeding under Title 41 or this title.
     (2) Grandparent-grandchild contact granted under this section may be granted only upon a finding by the court, after a hearing, that the contact would be in the best interest of the child.
     (3) A person may not petition the court under this section more often than once every 2 years unless there has been a significant change in the circumstances of:
     (a) the child;
     (b) the child's parent, guardian, or custodian; or
     (c) the child's grandparent.
     (4) The court may appoint an attorney to represent the interests of a child with respect to grandparent-grandchild contact when the interests are not adequately represented by the parties to the proceeding.
     (5) This section does not apply if the child has been adopted by a person other than a stepparent or a grandparent. Grandparent-grandchild contact granted under this section terminates upon the adoption of the child by a person other than a stepparent or a grandparent.

     History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 17, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 616, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 18, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 158, Ch. 546, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 33, Ch. 343, L. 1997.