Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, June 20, 2023
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER TAKING A POSITION OF SUPPORT AND SENDING A CORRESPONDING LETTER REGARDING SENATE BILL 331, PIQUI'S LAW, TO ADDRESS CONCERNS PERTAINING TO CHILD CUSTODY, ABUSE, AND SAFETY (CITY COUNCIL)
Body
I. SUMMARY
This item is on the agenda at the request of Mayor Davis-Holmes for City Council to consider taking a position of support and sending a corresponding letter regarding Senate Bill 331. The proposed letter is included as Exhibit 1 and the Bill Analysis is included as Exhibit 2.
This bill (1) clarifies the standard for testifying as an expert in a child custody or visitation case where a parent has been alleged to have committed domestic violence or child abuse, (2) prohibits a court from ordering family reunification treatments, as defined, and limits when a court may order counseling with a parent with whom the child has a damaged relationship, (3) requires judges involved in child custody proceedings to report to the Judicial Council, and the Judicial Council to report to the Legislature, on their trainings in the area of domestic violence; and (4) modifies the training programs that Judicial Council must establish for individuals who perform duties in family law members.
The author of the Bill indicates that since 2008, statistics show an abusive parent or custodian have murdered over 900 children nationwide. SB 331 will strengthen protections for children by prioritizing child safety in family court, requiring critical training and reporting for judicial officers and others deemed appropriate in family law matters and would ban the practice of court ordered reunification programs, which may have harmful impacts on children. SB 331, also known as Piqui's Law, is named after a 5-year-old boy tragically murdered in 2017 by his father during an unsupervised court ordered visitation.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE a position of SUPPORT for Senate Bill 331 and DI...
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