Mount Vernon, NY — New York attorney Lauren P. Raysor is calling on the State Assembly to immediately pass Kyra’s Law, a life-saving child custody reform bill that has already cleared the Senate. The bill would make child safety the top priority in family court decisions and require judges to receive specialized training in domestic violence, child abuse, and trauma.
The legislation is named after Kyra Franchetti, a two-year-old girl who was murdered by her father during a court-approved visit, despite her mother’s repeated warnings about his violent behavior.
“This was a preventable tragedy,” said Ms. Raysor. “Kyra’s mother did everything right — she told the court her child was in danger, and she was ignored. We can’t let this happen again.”
Introduced by Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi (D–Forest Hills) and Senator James Skoufis (D–Cornwall), Kyra’s Law (A.3315/S.3170) would:
- Require judges in custody and visitation cases to undergo intensive training in child abuse, trauma, and family violence
- Mandate that child safety takes precedence over parental rights in court decisions
- Curb the misuse of “parental alienation” claims, which can silence abuse survivors
- Call for mandatory evidentiary hearings in high-risk custody cases
In Kyra’s case, a court-appointed forensic evaluator recommended joint custody, and a judge dismissed the mother’s fears, saying, “this is not a life-or-death situation.” Days later, Kyra was shot to death in her sleep. Her father then set the house on fire and took his own life.
“Judges are making decisions without the tools or understanding they need to protect children,” Ms. Raysor said. “This bill gives them the training and the mandate to put safety first. The Assembly must act now — every day they wait, children remain at risk.”
Kyra’s Law passed the New York State Senate unanimously. It now sits in the Assembly, awaiting action.
For more information, call (914) 733-8080 or visit www.laurenpraysor.com.
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About Lauren P. Raysor
Lauren P. Raysor is an attorney concentrating in personal injury, civil rights, bankruptcy, matrimonial and family law. She has litigated numerous cases over the years, taking more than 35 cases to verdict and has argued before the Appellate Division in the case of Makeda Barnes Joseph v. Universal Music Group. She served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Mount Vernon, where she was in charge of the city’s Law Department. Ms. Raysor is currently outside counsel for the New York State Dormitory Authority, and served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Upper Manhattan Region, outside counsel to the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and counsel at a Wall Street law firm.
