9-04-2023 3:20pm

Piqui's Law - Will SB331 Get Lost in Committee Again 9/5/23

Lorraine Mabbett Editor

If SB 616, “Piqui’s Law,” had been enacted in 2022 federal funding would have been released; $25 million over 5 years, to protect victims of child abuse & domestics violence.

SB331 is scheduled for a 2nd Reading on 9/5/23 in the Assembly.

Piqui's Law was originally authored in February 2022 but did not make it through the judicial committee prior to the September 1st CA Legislative calendar close. It was reintroduced February 7th, 2023, again as Piqui's Law with the nomenclature SB331. Bill History - SB-331 Child custody: child abuse and safety. (ca.gov)

It passed thru the Rules Committee (2/15 & 3/22)
Judicial Committee (3/29 & 6/1).
Appropriations Committee on 9/1/23 "Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading."

Bill Status - SB-331 Child custody: child abuse and safety. (ca.gov)

Resource: One Mom's Battle -FB link

A parallel bill is also being offered SB5559 which does not address judicial training and circles back on contract visitation historically titled "reunification".

"this bill, among other things, would require the court, in determining whether to require the above-described limitations on visitation, to consider virtual visitation, as defined....This bill would authorize superior court locations to serve as supervised visitation and exchange
locations, and would also authorize the court to designate employees and contractors to provide
supervised visitation and exchange services or assistance with those services."

No hint of SB331 "Piqui's Law" or protecting children is in the list of Judicial Council Legislative-Priorities-2023.pdf (ca.gov)

Both SB616 & SB331 cited facts included eye-opening statistics "Approximately 1 in 15 children in the United States is exposed to domestic violence each year."

SB331 (2022-2023)It is the intent of the Legislature to do all of the following Today's Law As Amended - SB-331 Child custody: child abuse and safety. (ca.gov)

Is it these sections which has the attention of the Senate Judicial Committee, and which caused it to be stalled...stymied....set aside in 2022? The bill was mentioned in an October 2022 status report in which the Judicial Council opposed the bill.

(3) Ensure trainings are designed to improve the ability of judges, judges pro tem, referees, commissioners, mediators, child custody recommending counselors, minors counsel, evaluators, and others who are deemed appropriate and who perform duties in family law matters to recognize and respond to child abuse, domestic violence, and trauma in family victims.

(4) Ensure trainings are designed to improve the ability of judicial officers, referees, commissioners, and others who are deemed appropriate and who perform duties in family law matters to prioritize children and to make appropriate custody decisions in the best interest of child safety and well-being that are culturally responsive and appropriate for diverse communities.

(5) Move California toward becoming eligible for additional grant funding through the United States Department of Justice’s STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program, as appropriated for states that meet the requirements of the federal Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 (Division W of Public Law 117-103).