By Janie Robins (Oklahoma State University)
If your parents decided to get a divorce with a split custody agreement, and they decided that they did not want you to have any contact with your sibling, how would you feel?
Growing up, my sister was, and still is, my best friend. I would be devastated if I was not allowed to talk or communicate with her.
A bond between siblings is very special. There is no excuse for this bond to be broken.
This week the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature’s House of Representatives will be hearing Representative Matt Hayward’s, Rogers State University, bill titled the “Siblings Rights” Act of 2015. This bill states that when siblings are separated by adoption, or by the wishes of the legal guardians, said siblings will be allowed to communicate by some form. Visitation rights will also be given to siblings once they turn eighteen years old.
The current Oklahoma law does not require of any form of communication between siblings. It is purely up to the parents.
“I have a three year old little brother,” Representative Hayward said. “The way the Oklahoma law currently stands, if my parents decided they did not want me to see him, I never would.”
This new law covers all siblings including full, half, step and adopted siblings, but step and adopted siblings, unless they are of age must have a family member or lose family friend petition for them to request this contact. Full and half siblings can petition for themselves. An issue of fairness was brought up on this stating that siblings are siblings no matter what. But, these siblings are not of blood relation and therefore this part of the bill makes sense, in a way.
The other issue is that close family friend is able to make the petition but those who were actual members of the family, referring to the step and adopted siblings are not.
Many delegates are also concerned that this bill takes the authority away from the legal guardians.
“The bill has a good intent, but I feel like we must respect the authority of the legal guardians,” Assistant Chief Clerk Allen said. “If we undermine them here, where will we take it next?”
I do not think that this is the case. Siblings should have the right to contact each other, after all, they are family. On another point, some believe it is forcing them into contacting each other.
“The way it is written, it does not allow for siblings to deny the contact,” Representative Julie Tulle said. “If I don’t want to contact you, you still have access to me.”
This, in fact, is not true. The bill states that they are “allowed” access. This does not say that siblings must contact each other just that they have the right to. If a sibling does not wish to talk to the other, they also have the right to deny it.
I am in favor of this bill because it does allow the contact between siblings-which will also allow them, if they wish, to develop that important bond.