Legislation from U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) to bolster state courts’ abilities to recognize and adjudicate domestic violence and child abuse allegations will be signed into law by the president.
Kayden’s Law, authored by Rep. Fitzpatrick, received approval on March 9 from the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization Act of 2022, which is included in the larger fiscal year 2022 omnibus appropriations package.
“I’m thrilled to see that Kayden’s Law, which I authored, was included in the House-passed omnibus spending package, and that Congress is directly addressing the important issue of protecting our children from family violence,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said.
Kayden’s Law is named for 7-year-old Kayden Mancuso of Bucks County, Pa., who was murdered in 2018 while on a court-ordered visit with her biological father.
“This incident shook our community to its core and has served as a wake-up call for all levels of government that we must do more to protect our children,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick.
Kayden’s Law will increase federal funding under the STOP Grant program for states that put laws into place protecting child safety in any private state court proceeding affecting child care and custody, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Fitzpatrick’s staff.
Additionally, the bill will strengthen the ability of state courts to recognize and adjudicate domestic violence and child abuse allegations based on valid, admissible evidence so that courts may enter orders that protect and minimize the risk of harm to children, the summary says.
Kayden’s Law was included in the VAWA Reauthorization Act of 2022, S. 3623, which was added into the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, H.R. 2471, that Congress approved last week.