Wendell Turner loves all of his grandchildren. But there are two who he feels need a little more protection.
"Their mother had abandoned them. And their dad just wasn't qualified to take care of them,” Turner said.
The state agreed. In 2007, his grandsons went through the foster care process. After attending a custody meeting, Turner decided to get an attorney and fight for his grandsons.
"One of the people who was still there said it won't do you any good, because grandparents don't have any rights. And I said, well who is going to get them? And he said, that teacher,” Turner said.
Turner says that teacher was Rick Pendland. Pendland is now accused in several child molestation cases. Turner's grandchildren never went to Pendland. But Turner says his story shows why another grandparents' rights bill is necessary.
"The one last year got us in the courtroom. If we get this bill passed, it will give us status in there where we can actually be up in the front row with everybody else,” Turner said.
Turner's Bill says, in part, if a child is removed from a parent's custody, "any grandparent shall receive preference when evaluating what custody... arrangements are in the best interests of the child."
"It can be very important for the grandparent to step into the role if parent's rights have been severed, just for the child's continuity of culture, community,” Vicky Roper said.
Roper is with the Kansas Children's Service League. She says it's a complicated system, as it stands now. Turner wants to make it easier for other grandparents and grandchildren.
"I'm the only grandfather they ever knew,” Pendland said.
Turner will speak at a senate committee meeting on his bill next Tuesday.
