The law is named after a Bucks County girl who was killed.
A view of the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg. File photo.
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has given final approval to a bill to reform the state's child custody laws.
The bill, known as “Kayden’s Law,” was sent to Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk for his signature.
The bill, Senate Bill 55, received bipartisan support in the House and Senate.
The legislation was pushed by state senators Steve Santarsiero, a Democrat from Bucks County, and Lisa Baker, a Republican from northeastern Pennsylvania.
The bill passed the House with support from state Rep. Joe Hogan, a Republican from Langhorne Borough, and state Rep. Tina Davis, a Democrat from Bristol Township.
Named in honor of Kayden Mancuso, a seven-year-old from Lower Makefield Township who tragically lost her life during an unsupervised, court-ordered visit with her biological father in Philadelphia in August 2018. The visit came after a year-long custody battle. The bill's namesake was a student in the Pennsbury School District, and her killing sparked legislative action that prioritizes the safety of children in custody cases.
Photo credit: Kayden's Korner
Kayden's Law imposes strict requirements on judges when making custody and visitation decisions. It requires that any judicial determination of an ongoing risk of abuse to protect the child must include safety conditions in custody orders, such as: B. Supervised visits. In addition, the law promotes annual education programs for judges and court staff on child abuse and its effects, Santarsiero's office said.
“We are one step closer to protecting children in custody cases,” Santarsiero said. “This has been a years-long collaboration led by the tireless advocacy of Kayden’s mother, Kathy Sherlock, as well as attorneys and family law experts. Kayden's Law will ultimately be presented to the Governor for his signature and, if signed into law, will save children's lives by ensuring that the safety of the child is the top priority in custody cases and that no child is ever left alone in a dangerous environment again will be accommodated.”
State Senator Steve Santarsiero speaks.
Photo credit: Tom Sofield/NewHopeFreePress.com
Baker said the bill is a “responsible response” to the circumstances of Kayden’s death and aims to prevent similar outcomes in the future.
Davis expressed hope that the new law will prevent future tragedies.
“More than five years ago, I vowed to do whatever it took to protect children, and today our mission to 'do not do another' becomes a reality in Pennsylvania,” Sherlock, Kayden's mother, said in one Explanation. “It should never be the case that children are ordered to remain in abusive or unsafe situations. I am grateful to Senators Santarsiero and Baker and Representatives Davis and Warren for their efforts in ensuring we passed legislation that establishes common-sense protections to save children's lives. I would also like to express my deep appreciation for the advocacy and guidance of Danielle Pollack and the National Family Violence Law Center.”
Rep. Perry Warren (D-31) praised the commitment of Kayden's family and their supporters in enforcing the law, which he said ensures courts have the necessary guidance and resources to put the best interests of children first in custody decisions deliver.
With bipartisan support and a focused commitment to child safety, Kayden's bill represents a significant step forward in reforming Pennsylvania's child custody laws with the goal of preventing a repeat of such a devastating loss.
Comments are closed.