Earlier this week, the Flash Report alerted our readers to Assembly Bill 612, a bipartisan bill to close a loophole in evidence rules for family court. The bill, which is co-authored by Asm. Cameron Smyth, is a top-priority for child abuse prevention groups. Under current law, non-scientific theories and junk science can be used to influence child custody and abuse cases. Child advocates across the country are especially concerned about a debunked theory known as parental alienation syndrome (PAS). Over the past two decades, there have been countless cases where PAS has led to children being returned to abusive environments.
We are happy to report that the Assembly Judiciary Committee approved AB 612 on a 9-0 vote. Proving that, occasionally, even Sacramento gets it right. We’ll see how the bill progresses as it moves forward…