Appropriations panel advances bills to expand counseling access for children affected by domestic violence

The Assembly Appropriations Committee on March 20 voted to favorably release an assembly committee substitute for A2998 (1st reprint) and A567 (1st reprint), bills that would expand access to counseling for children who are present in or part of families affected by domestic violence.

The bills, merged for committee consideration, would create a statutory pathway permitting courts to order counseling for children of parties to a domestic violence complaint and would establish a presumption in appropriate custody awards favoring survivors of domestic violence where appropriate. The committee heard supportive testimony from Denise Higgins, legal director of the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence, who said counseling is “imperative to end the cycle of domestic violence and to heal from trauma.”

“Children who have experienced domestic violence have access to counseling at a time when it is most needed,” Higgins told the committee, and she urged members to support the bills and to continue budget advocacy to fund programs that provide services to children statewide.

Committee members moved the bills without additional amendments. After roll call, the committee favorably released the assembly committee substitute for A2998 (1st reprint) and A567 (1st reprint).

The committee record shows the bills were supported by the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence and listed Assembly sponsors including Assemblyman Miller, Assemblywoman Reynolds Jackson and Assemblywoman Mingemore. No formal amendments were recorded during committee consideration.