Bill > S07425

This bill, known as "Kyra's Law," makes several key changes to child custody and visitation proceedings in New York: 1. It requires courts to consider the health and safety of the child as the top priority when making custody and visitation decisions, and lays out specific factors the court must weigh, such as allegations of domestic violence or child abuse, prior police reports, and whether either party owns firearms. 2. It creates a rebuttable presumption that the court shall not award sole or joint custody or unsupervised visitation to a party who jeopardizes the life or safety of the child. 3. It prohibits the court from considering theories like "parental alienation" that are not supported by scientific evidence, and bars courts from ordering reunification treatment that would separate a child from their primary caregiver. 4. It requires judges, referees, and other court officials handling custody cases involving domestic violence or child abuse to undergo initial and ongoing training on relevant laws, the dynamics of abuse, and assessment of risks to the child's safety. 5. It allows for expedited appeals of temporary emergency custody orders issued to protect a child's life or safety, and provides for a stay of such orders pending appeal in certain circumstances. Overall, the bill aims to prioritize child safety and wellbeing in custody and visitation determinations, and ensure that courts are equipped to properly handle cases involving domestic violence and child abuse.