Kayden’s Law Passes House, Heads to Governor for Signature

HARRISBURGMarch 25, 2024 − Critical legislation to save children’s lives is heading to Governor Shapiro’s desk after final passage in the House today.  Senate Bill 55, also known as Kayden’s Law, is legislation that provides urgently needed reform to Pennsylvania’s child custody statute. The bi-partisan legislation is sponsored by Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Lisa Baker (R-20), and is named for Kayden Mancuso, a seven-year-old from Lower Makefield Township, who was killed in August 2018 by her biological father during a court-ordered, unsupervised visit granted following a year-long custody dispute.

“Today is a great day.  Today we are one step closer to protecting children in custody cases,” said Senator Santarsiero.  “This has been a years-long collaborative effort led by the tireless advocacy of Kayden’s mom Kathy Sherlock, along with family law advocates and experts.  Kayden’s Law is finally headed to the Governor for signature and, when signed into law, will save children’s lives by ensuring the safety of the child is paramount in custody cases and that no child will ever again be placed alone in a dangerous environment.”

“Whenever we have a heartbreaking loss such as Kayden, it is our obligation to make sure the circumstances cannot be repeated, to the greatest extent possible under law and human judgment, said Senator Baker.  “Punishment of the perpetrator is not enough.  This bill required a great deal of debate and advocacy to reach the point of passage.  Adding seven crimes judges must take into account is a responsible reaction to the suffering Kayden endured.”

Kayden’s Law will:

  • Strengthen the current factors that judges must consider in making custody and visitation decisions, to make it clear that the most important issue is the protection of the child;
  • Ensure that if there is a finding by the court of an ongoing risk of abuse, that any custody order includes safety conditions and restrictions necessary, including supervised visitation, to protect the child; and
  • Encourage the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to implement an annual educational and training program for judges and relevant court personnel on child abuse, adverse childhood experiences, domestic violence, and its impact on children.

Sen. Santarsiero continued, “I want to thank my colleague, and friend, Sen. Lisa Baker, for her partnership in writing the bill and helping it get through the Senate. I also want to thank my House colleagues Tina Davis and Perry Warren for their work on this issue. Most of all, I want to thank Kayden’s mom Kathy Sherlock for her courage and conviction to educate the public, lawmakers and court personnel on the importance of this issue.  This bill cannot heal the grievous wound that Kathy and her family have suffered, but by protecting our children moving forward, I hope it will give them some measure of solace.”

“More than five years ago I vowed to do whatever it took to protect children, and today, our mission of ‘not one more’ is becoming a reality in Pennsylvania,” said Kathy Sherlock.  “It should never be the case that children are ordered to remain in abusive or unsafe situations. I am grateful for Senators Santarsiero and Baker and Representatives Davis and Warren for their dedication to making sure we got legislation passed that puts commonsense safeguards in place to save children’s lives.  I also want to express my profound appreciation for the advocacy and guidance of Danielle Pollack and the National Family Violence Law Center.”

“The tenacious work of Kathy Sherlock, the Sherlock and Giglio families and their legion of supporters has been rewarded with the passage of this lifesaving legislation,” said Rep. Perry Warren (D-31). “In the wake of unspeakable tragedy Kayden’s family and friends’ dedicated their efforts to ensure that courts have the guidance and resources to make the best interest of the child the top priority in child custody determinations. Thank you to everyone who has worked to make this goal the law in Pennsylvania.”

Rep. Davis added, “Kayden Mancuso’s death was a true tragedy. While the passage of this law cannot undo her untimely death, it can hopefully prevent this from happening to another child and another family.”

Senate Bill 55 now goes to Governor Shapiro for signature.

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Senator Santarsiero Announces $120,000 in Grants Through Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency 

BUCKS COUNTY – June 11, 2020 – State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) announced the award of $120,000 in grant funding through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) to two organizations in Bucks County.  The Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA) was awarded $100,000 through the Children’s Advocacy Center Advisory Committee (CACAC) funds.  The Bucks County Public Defender’s Office will receive $20,000 through the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee (CJAC) Capital Case Indigent Defense Program Funds.

 “Both NOVA and the Bucks County Public Defender’s Office provide vital assistance to some of the most vulnerable residents of Bucks County,” Sen. Santarsiero said. “The CACAC grant will enable NOVA to continue their important work of advocating for children and families in need.  I was also pleased to see that funds will be going to the Public Defender’s office to assist with the legal cases of indigent clients through the CJAC grant.” 

“The award from PCCD will allow NOVA to expand on the exceptional forensic and counseling services that we provide to children who are the victims of sexual abuse and their families, said “Penny Ettinger, Executive Director of NOVA.  In particular, we will expand our forensic interview services through the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) and specialized trauma- counseling for children who have yet to disclose their abuse directly to an adult but where there is significant concern that the abuse has occurred.  NOVA is the comprehensive victim services organization in the county.   The CAC is a multi-disciplinary partnership with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, the County Children and Youth Agency, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, and local law enforcement.”

“This is the first time the Bucks County Public Defender has received an award of funding from PCCD, and we appreciate their approval of our request,” said Ann Russavage-Faust, Chief Public Defender for the agency.  “We currently have two pending capital cases and will be putting this award to immediate use on these cases.”

NOVA’s programs serve residents across Bucks County, with offices in Jamison, Perkasie and Fairless Hills. For more information about NOVA, visit their website.

The Bucks County Public Defender’s Office represents indigent defendants in all phases of criminal defense, mental health, and domestic relations proceedings.  For more information about the Bucks County Public Defender’s Office, visit their website.

The CACAC seeks to promote prevention, treatment, and justice for victims of child sexual abuse and child abuse through children’s advocacy centers and multidisciplinary investigative teams throughout the Commonwealth. To learn more about the CACAC, visit the PCCD website.   

The CJAC supports a comprehensive strategy to reduce crime that prioritizes evidence-based policy and practice at every stage of the Commonwealth’s justice system. To learn more about the CJAC, visit the PCCD website.

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