HB 896 — Jesse's Law.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2025 H 21 HOUSE BILL 896 Committee Substitute Favorable 5/6/25 Short Title:

Representatives Paré and Cervania (Primary Sponsors).

For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.

Judiciary 2, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House April 14, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO ESTABLISHENSURE THEINDIVIDUALS STUDYTHAT COMMITTEEARE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TRAINING STANDARDS FOR PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN CHILD CUSTODY PROCEEDINGS INVOLVINGRECEIVE DOMESTICAPPROPRIATE VIOLENCETRAINING. AND CHILD ABUSE.

CommitteeChapter Established.50 of the General Statutes is amended byaddingthe following new Article to read:

–"Article There6. is established the Study Committee on Domestic Violence Training Standards for Professionals Involved in Child Custody Proceedings Involving Domestic Violence and Child Abuse (Committee).

The"Jesse's CommitteeLaw. shall include 13 voting members, as follows:

(1)"§ One50-110. member of the House of Representatives, appointed bythe Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(2)Purpose. One member of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

(3) The Directorpurpose of this Article is to ensure that professional personnel involved in cases containing domestic violence or child abuse allegations receive trauma-informed and culturally appropriate training on the Administrativedynamics, Officesigns, and impact of thedomestic Courtsviolence orand theirchild designee.abuse, including child sexual abuse.

(4)"§ The50-111. Director of the UNC School of Government or their designee.

(5)Definitions. The Director of the Dispute Resolution Commission or their designee.

(6) The Directorfollowing ofdefinitions theapply Departmentin ofthis HealthArticle: and Human Services, Division of Social Services, or their designee.

(7)(1) TheChild Directorcustody ofproceeding. Legal Aid of North Carolina or their designee.

(8)– TheAny Directorcivil ofaction thebrought Northunder Carolinathis AssociationChapter ofconcerning Districtthe Courtcustody Judgesof orminor theirchildren. designee.

(9)(2) TheDomestic Northviolence. Carolina Guardian Ad Litem Administrator or their designee.

(10)– AnAs individualdefined regularly serving as a parenting coordinator and an individual regularly serving as a guardian ad litem in custodyG.S. cases filed under Chapter 50 of the General Statutes, with one being an attorney and one being a psychologist, social worker, or other mental health provider, appointed by the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.

(11)50B-1. The Chair of the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force or their designee.

(12)(3) TheMinor Executivechild. Director of the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence or their designee.

SECTION– 2.As defined in Article 5 of this Chapter.

Cochairs.(4) Reunification treatment.

– TheA appointedtreatment memberor oftherapy theaimed Houseat ofreuniting Representativesor andreestablishing thea appointedrelationship memberbetween ofa thechild Senateand shallan serveestranged asor cochairsrejected parent or other family member of the Committee.child.

SECTION3."§ 50-112.

Vacancies.–AvacancyontheCommitteeshallbefilledbytheoriginalTraining appointingrequirements authority using the criteria for thecourt priorofficers appointment.and personnel.

SECTION4.(a) Any judge, magistrate, or judicial officer who hears child custody proceedings, and any court personnel, including guardian ad litems, mediators, parent coordinators, and any court referred professionals engaging in reunification treatment must complete the training program described in this section.

Duties.–TheCommitteeshallserveas(b) astudyandadvisorycommitteeThe ontraining theprogram needshall forconsist and feasibility of implementingan statewideinitial training forsession judges,constituting judicialat officers,least *H896-v-2*20 Generalhours Assemblyand Ofnot Northless Carolinathan Session15 2025hours parentingof coordinators,ongoing guardianstraining adevery litem,five familyyears financialthat mediators,includes, childat custodya mediators,minimum, andall other court-affiliated personnel involved in child custody proceedings that include allegations of domesticthe violencefollowing: or child abuse.

Pursuant(1) toA thisfocus work,on thesolely Committeedomestic shalland study,sexual atviolence, aincluding minimum,child eachsexual ofabuse, thephysical following:abuse, emotional abuse, coercive control, implicit and explicit bias, and trauma.

(1)(2) TrainingLong- requirements.and short-term impacts of domestic violence and child abuse on minor children.

–*H896-v-1* TheGeneral appropriateAssembly duration,Of frequency,North Carolina Session 2025 (3) Victim and contentperpetrator ofbehavior trainingpatterns forand relationship dynamics within the followingcycle professionals:of violence.

a.(4) A study of scientific-based research, including, but not limited to, the Duluth model, Saunders study, and Adverse Childhood Experiences study.

Judges,(c) magistrates,The andtraining judicialmust officers.be provided by a professional with substantial experience in assisting survivors of domestic violence or child abuse, including a victim service provider, as defined in 34 U.S.C.

b.§ 12291, and, if possible, a survivor of domestic violence or child physical or sexual abuse.

GuardiansThe adtraining litem.must rely on evidence-based and peer-reviewed research by recognized experts in the types of abuse referenced in this section and shall not include any theories, concepts, or belief systems unsupported by the research described in this section.

c.(d) The training must be designed to improve the ability of those persons participating to recognize and respond to child physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, and trauma in all family victims, particularly children, and assist in making child custody decisions in appropriate proceedings." SECTION 2.

FamilyThe financialAdministrative mediatorsOffice of the Courts or appropriate State agency shall apply to the United States Attorney General's Office for federal grant support to implement the training program established in this act, and childany custodyother mediators.federal grant funds made available under the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022.

d.SECTION 3.

ParentThis coordinators.act becomes effective October 1, 2025.

e.Page 2 House Bill 896-First Edition

Professionals referred by the court to conduct reunification treatment.

f.