ADVOCACY WORK
See What Efforts are at Work
As of the 2024 Utah Legislative Session, bill HB 272 – Child Custody Proceedings Amendments – “OM’S LAW” was unanimously passed by the Utah Judiciary Committee on Thursday, Feb. 8th at 8 am.
Then it went before the House. It passed on Friday, February 16th, 2024 after some uncertainty and back and forth…. (and a lot of nail biting!)
We are extremely happy to announce that Governor Spencer Cox received Om’s Law by passing the Senate. And, on March 20, 2024, Governor Cox signed Om’s Law. It will be effective on May 1st, 2024.
I am grateful to Leah Moses with the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition and Om’s mother, Utah Senator Michael K. McKell, (R) – Spanish Fork and Representative Paul A. Cutler, District 18, Davis County for their sponsorship of this bill.
Sen. Michael K. McKell, R-Spanish Fork
Rep. Paul A. Cutler, District 18 – Davis County
Leah Moses, Utah Domestic Violence Coalition
To read the full bill, click here.
This bill is named in honor of Om Moses Gandhi, who was tragically killed by his father, Parth Gandhi, on May 13, 2023. After killing his son, Parth turned the gun on himself in a murder-suicide. Om’s mother, Leah Moses, and his father had been in a custody battle for a decade. Sadly, a Utah judge gave Parth full custody of the children despite Leah giving the court evidence and warnings of Parth’s violent behavior. Om was tragically killed during one of these court-ordered parent times.
Om Moses Gandhi
You can read the news articles below to learn more about Leah Moses, her story, and her advocacy efforts. She and many others have worked tirelessly with the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition to bring about change in our family court system.
Read Leah urging for family court reform Here.
News article About Leah’s lobby efforts at the Utah State Capitol Here.
Read about Leah’s custody battle Here.
Advocacy Work Around the Country
“Keeping Children Safe Against Family Violence”
Piqui’s Law – California
Piqui was an innocent five-year-old child, who was murdered by his father during a family court case, despite Ana’s (Piqui’s mother) pleas for protection for her son. She was denied a restraining order and supervised visitation. Now Ana fights to ensure that no one ever has to suffer the unthinkable tragedy that she and her boy endured.
Piqui and his mother, Ana Estevez
Piqui’s Law (SB 331 Rubio) protects children in family court by prohibiting the courts from ordering highly traumatic reunification camps. The law ensures that critical training is developed and established for judicial officers involved in domestic violence and child custody matters and it sets up reporting requirements on education and training participation taken by judicial officers.
We are very grateful to Piqui’s mother, Ana Estevez, for her brave work to help bring this law to fruition.
And to the Bill’s sponsor, Senator Susan Rubio of Baldwin Park.
Senator Susan Rubio
Piqui’s Law was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 13, 2023.
To watch news coverage of this, Click Here.
Passage of Piqui’s Law KLTV news coverage, Click Here.
Kayden’s Law – Pennsylvania
“Kayden’s Law” is named after Kayden Mancuso, a 7-year-old girl from Bucks County, Pennsylvania who was murdered by her father during
court-ordered unsupervised custody time, which was granted despite the mother raising safety concerns during proceedings. Kayden’s
mother, Kathy Sherlock submitted evidence to the court of the father’s abusive, violent history – including criminal records and a protection
from abuse order for his threatening to kill family members -but he was nevertheless granted unsupervised contact with little Kayden. The
father then beat Kayden to death and tied a bag over her head, leaving a note of retribution on her body.
Kayden Mancuso
The U.S. federal government signed “Kayden’s Law” on March 16, 2022 under the VAWA – Violence Against Women Act.
On March 25, 2024, “Kayden’s Law” was sent to Governor Shapiro’s desk (Pennsylvania’s Governor) to be signed.
Kayden’s Law Heads to Governor desk to be signed.
See Kathy Sherlock speak about “Kayden’s Law” Here.
Abrial’s Law – Tennessee
As of March 25, 2024, Abrial’s Law – SB0722, has been sent to the Tennessee State Senate for a final vote. I will keep updating this as information is made available.
Our Thoughts on the Future of Advocacy Work
We are hopeful bill’s similar to Om’s Law, Kaden’s Law, and Piqui’s Law will be passed in every state of this nation. The light is being shown on the unscrupulous legal and therapeutic professionals who do NOT put child safety ahead of parental rights. Many children across America who have had to live with the atrocities that our family court system has placed on them, are now aging out of that system and they are speaking out against it. They survived at great traumatic cost. These children are coming and they will be the force that takes down the evil “parental alienation” and “reunification camp” industries that plague the American family court system.
WE SUPPORT ALL VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE.
WE HEAR YOU, WE SEE YOU, AND WE WILL SUPPORT YOU.
