Bill > S1134

This bill, known as Kayden's Law or the Keeping Children Safe from Family Violence Act, establishes comprehensive guidelines and training requirements for courts, judges, and professionals involved in child custody proceedings where domestic violence or child abuse allegations exist. The legislation addresses significant concerns about child safety, highlighting that approximately 15 million children are exposed to domestic violence or child abuse annually, and that courts often discount abuse allegations. The bill requires professionals involved in custody cases to complete extensive training (20 initial hours and 15 ongoing hours every five years) focusing on domestic violence, child abuse types, trauma, and bias recognition. The law mandates that courts prioritize child safety, restrict reunification treatments unless scientifically proven safe, and carefully evaluate evidence of abuse, including protection orders, arrests, and convictions. Importantly, the bill prohibits removing a child from a protective parent solely to improve a relationship with an accused parent and requires expert testimony from professionals with demonstrated expertise in domestic violence and child abuse. The legislation also establishes a task force to study training requirements and instructs the Rhode Island judiciary to seek federal grant funding to support implementation. Ultimately, the bill aims to improve judicial understanding of abuse dynamics and protect children from potential harm in custody proceedings.