Kayden’s Law, Named For Slain Bucks Co. Child, Passes In Senate

LOWER MAKEFIELD, PA — The Pennsylvania State Senate passed Senate Bill 78, better known as Kayden’s Law, on Thursday.

The reform to Pennsylvania’s child custody statute is named for Kayden Mancuso, a Lower Makefield seven-year-old who was killed by her biological father during an unsupervised visit in 2018. Kayden’s biological parents were in a custody battle when the court ordered this visit — despite evidence of abusive and violent behavior by her father.

The landmark legislation would protect children in several key ways. The bill would: impose safety conditions and restrictions on visitation in cases of abuse, modify the factors that a judge must consider in making a custody award to make the child's health and safety the primary focus, and recommend more comprehensive training of all court personnel involved in custody cases.

Her mother, Kathy Sherlock, founded a non-profit called Kayden’s Corner and began to work with lawmakers to craft Kayden’s Law.

“We have been working so hard for years now to see this day for justice for Kayden and for all the kids who are put in harm’s way by family courts every single day,” Sherlock said. “Kayden’s Law could have saved my daughter if it had been in place in 2018. Let’s hope it helps other children suffering and at risk right now.”

Senate Bill 78 is a bi-partisan effort by Senators Lisa Baker (R-20) and Steve Santarsiero (D-10), who serve as the Republican and Democratic chairs, respectively, of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Our responsibility in protecting children is to take every reasonable step available to keep them from harm’s way and prevent a repetition of what happened to Kayden. Without this change in the law, the system would remain tilted to the detriment of the interests and safety of at-risk children,” Baker said.

Santarsiero thanked Baker and State Representatives Tina Davis (D-141) and Perry Warren (D-31) for their work on the issue.

“But the greatest credit must go to Kathy Sherlock and the rest of Kayden’s family,” he said. “Kathy has been a tireless advocate for the children of our state. Her strength and dedication to this cause has inspired me time and again not to give up.”

Approval by the Senate is an important step in bringing Kayden’s Law to the governor’s desk. Now, Senate Bill 78 will go to the State House for consideration.

“No child in Pennsylvania should ever be left alone with an abuser, period,” Santarsiero wrote on Facebook, announcing Thursday’s news. “Kayden’s Law will help ensure that that never happens again.”