Nassau Standard

Assemblyman Brian Curran (Lynbrook-21st A.D.) has thrown his weight behind a new legislative initiative, "Kyra’s Law," aimed at safeguarding children from harm and abuse within the family court system. The proposed law seeks to prevent the court from granting custody or visitation rights to individuals who pose a risk to a child's well-being. It also includes provisions for enhanced training for judges and mandates the appointment of an attorney to represent the child in cases where serious threats to their safety are alleged.

Curran's support for the bill stems from a deeply personal place, as he highlights the alarming statistic that "the number of children killed by their parent during a custody or divorce case has risen to 33" in New York since 2016. In his own words, "As legislators, our top priority should be to protect the most vulnerable, I can’t think of anyone more vulnerable than a young child... If we train our judges to notice the signs of potential abuse and harm and then require them to consider the child’s safety when awarding custody or visitation, we can save lives."

Expressing his commitment to the cause, Curran, a father himself, emphasized the preciousness of children and the necessity of prioritizing their safety. "That is why I am proud to support Kyra’s Law and will continue to fight for the children of New York and make sure their safety is a priority."

The introduction of "Kyra’s Law" signals a crucial step towards ensuring the protection of vulnerable children within the state, with Curran's advocacy amplifying the urgency of reforming the current system to prevent tragic outcomes like the one that befell Kyra Franchetti.