'Kayden's Law' Quickly Clears Senate Committee

LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA — A child-protection bill named in honor of a slain Lower Makefield girl was one of the first pieces of legislation approved by the state senate committee that was considering it.

The bill, co-sponsored by Bucks County state Sen. Steve Santarsiero, was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday in Harrisburg. It made similar progress in September, but was not approved by the full senate by the end of the year and, as such, had to be reintroduced.

Santarsiero, whose district includes Lower Makefield, introduced the bill in honor of Kayden Mancuso. The 7-year-old Edgewood Elementary student was killed in August 2018 in a murder-suicide by her father while her parents were locked in a year-long custody battle.

The bill would shore up child protections in Pennsylvania by adding to the list of evidence judges may consider when making custody and visitation decisions. Histories of abuse and domestic violence would be considered, as would allegations of child abuse or violence.

"In the two years since Kayden’s death, I have been working with Kayden’s family and experts in the field of child abuse and child custody issues to craft legislation," Santarsiero said. "Kayden’s death was a senseless and avoidable tragedy that shook our community and, together, the legislature can prevent others from experiencing this type of grief and loss. We must ensure the safety of our children is the most important concern in contentious custody battles."

Local lawmakers Rep. Tina Davis and Rep. Perry Warren have sponsored similar legislation in the state House of Representatives.

Sen. Lisa Baker, a Republican from Lehman Township in Pike County, co-sponsored Santarsiero's bill in the senate. Santarsiero, Davis and Warren are Democrats.

At the time of Kayden's death, her mother had a restraining order against Mancuso because of his violent past and family members have said that Mancuso had made death threats against them.