Staff Reports
The New York State Legislature finally did something right: it passed Kyra’s Law and sent it to Governor Kathy Hochul’s desk. After a decade of talks, hearings and heartbreak, lawmakers told family courts to put child safety first. That sounds basic enough, but in Albany, basic sometimes needs a nudge — or a law — to get done.
What Kyra’s Law actually does
Kyra’s Law makes “the safety of children” a threshold issue in custody fights. The bill requires courts to hold a prompt evidentiary hearing — the text says the hearing should begin within about 20 court days — when a party claims credible facts that could put a child at substantial risk. The law lets judges consider police reports and prior findings of domestic violence or child abuse, and it creates a rebuttable presumption against unsupervised custody when a child’s safety is at stake. In plain English: judges can’t pretend there’s no problem if there’s a paper trail showing danger.
Why this matters now — and why it took so long
This law is named for Kyra Franchetti, a toddler killed during a court-ordered visit after warnings about her father. Her mother, Jacqueline Franchetti, kept pushing for change. The Legislature’s action—unanimous or near-unanimous votes in the Senate and strong support in the Assembly—shows the political will finally matched the moral one. Still, it’s ridiculous it took a decade and too many tragedies to get here. Courts and child services have plenty of tools but not always the rules that force safety to come first.
Politics, logistics and the road ahead
Senator James Skoufis and Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi steered the bill through a long process. They cleaned up language to balance safety with due process concerns — yes, critics warned about rushed hearings and court resources — but the bill builds in counsel for children and limits on evidence so judges can act fast and fairly. Now the practical test begins: family courts will need training, more lawyers for children, and systems to handle expedited hearings. That will cost money and take planning. If Albany really cares about kids, they’ll fund it, not just clap for headlines.
What Governor Hochul should do next
Governor Kathy Hochul should sign Kyra’s Law without delay. This is a straightforward child-protection reform that got bipartisan backing and answers a glaring gap that cost lives. If she drags her feet, Democrats and Republicans alike should ask why protecting children can wait while everything else moves at Albany speed. The law isn’t a cure-all, but it forces judges to start with safety — and that’s the right place to begin.
