The "Keeping Children Safe from Family Violence Act," also known as "Kayden's Law," seeks to enhance the judicial response to child abuse and domestic violence within family court proceedings. The bill introduces a new chapter in Title 15 of the General Laws, defining key terms such as "accused party," "protective party," and "child custody proceeding." It establishes a task force to study training requirements for judicial personnel, emphasizing the need for trauma-informed training to better protect children. Notably, the bill does not delete any existing legal language but adds significant provisions that require courts to consider expert testimony from professionals experienced in domestic violence and child abuse cases, and mandates that evidence of past abuse must include proper documentation.

Additionally, the bill sets forth requirements for child and family investigators, evaluators, and legal representatives to undergo extensive training focused on the impacts of domestic violence and child abuse. This training must be conducted by qualified professionals and is aimed at ensuring that the judicial process is informed by evidence-based practices. The bill also calls for the Rhode Island judiciary to seek increased federal funding to support these initiatives. Overall, Kayden's Law aims to prioritize child safety in custody and visitation decisions while reinforcing the need for qualified expertise in handling cases of domestic violence and child abuse.