Next stop for State Sen. Susan Rubio’s SB 616– Piqui’s Law — is the Senate, and then the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom. Along with a relentless push from mother Ana Estevez, actress Angelina Jolie has backed the effort. A San Gabriel Valley state legislator’s bill seeking to require judges to take domestic violence training to inform them on child safety during custody proceedings is one step … [Read more...]
Murders of Children Forced Congress and Biden to Act. Will California Do the Same?
BY SUSAN RUBIO AND KATHLEEN RUSSELL (SACRAMENTO BEE) - In February 2022, during a family-court-ordered visitation at a Sacramento church, a father murdered his three young daughters and a designated supervisor. He then committed suicide. Previously, the mother had obtained a domestic violence restraining order against the man, saying she feared for the life of her children and herself and that … [Read more...]
‘Piqui’s Law’: Mother’s Push for Bill Named After Son Murdered by His Father Makes Progress
The mom of a Southern California boy who was murdered by his father about five years ago continues to advocate for a law named after her son. Senate Bill 616, or "Piqui's Law," would ensure California could receive federal funding to protect victims of child abuse and domestic violence by "prioritizing child safety in our family court system, aligning with federal provisions within the Violence … [Read more...]
Violence Against Women Act Set to be Renewed Through Bipartisan Spending Agreement
Democratic and Republican lawmakers have agreed to include reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in their omnibus spending package, Democratic leaders said Wednesday, capping a years-long effort to renew the landmark legislation after it expired in 2019. “When I first wrote and championed the original VAWA legislation, it helped break a dam of congressional and cultural resistance … [Read more...]