Bill > S05998

This bill, known as "Kyra's Law", requires courts to prioritize child safety when making custody and visitation decisions. The bill mandates that courts conduct a comprehensive review of allegations of domestic violence or child abuse, including examining specific types of harmful behaviors such as threats, stalking, substance abuse, sexual offenses, and coercive control. When credible allegations of serious risk to a child's safety are made, the court must appoint an attorney to represent the child. The bill requires courts to consider factors like a history of violence, police reports, threats to harm children or others, and patterns of abusive behavior when determining custody arrangements. Judges must now explicitly state on the record how they considered safety concerns in their custody decisions and are prohibited from penalizing protective parents who take reasonable actions to safeguard their children. Additionally, the bill requires comprehensive training for judges and court officials on handling cases involving domestic violence and child abuse, and updates court procedures to better document and address potential safety risks in child custody proceedings.

Housing and Urban Affairs, Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5998