My daughter is everything to me.   I've raised her on my own since she was just a month old, nurturing and loving her with all my heart. However, a troubling situation has arisen. Her mother, who has made strides in rehabilitating her life, has requested through the Citrus County Court in Florida to have parenting time in Cincinnati, Ohio during the summer.   Sadly, she currently resides in a domestic violence situation, subject to a standing injunction as of 4-2-2026, which she has opted to violate. The Citrus County judge presiding over our case inexplicably chose not to address my concerns for our daughter's safety.  Now, my daughter has been forced to relocate 1000 miles away for two months where she will be forced to live with a dangerous individual.

In Florida, there is no legislation that prevents a child from being exchanged with another parent when there is a domestic violence situation present in that parent's home. This glaring legislative gap places countless children at severe risk of physical and emotional harm. Every year, children are put in precarious positions due to judicial oversights and existing legal frameworks that fail to prioritize their safety.

It's crucial to implement legislation that specifically prohibits any child from being exchanged into an environment where domestic violence is present. By doing so, we can protect them from experiencing trauma and ensure their well-being is safeguarded above all else.

Statistics from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence indicate that 1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90% of these children witness these instances at home. By permitting exchanges into homes afflicted by such violence, we are unknowingly subjecting them to potential life-long psychological scars.

I urge lawmakers in Florida to introduce and pass legislation that mandates careful assessments of home environments before allowing child exchanges. We need laws that uphold the safety of our children as paramount and ensure that no child is put in harm's way due to existing domestic troubles.

 
My proposed legislation:

 

Izzy’s Law

An Act Relating to Child Safety in Custody and Visitation Determinations

 

Section 1.  Short Title

This act shall be known and may be cited as “Izzy’s Law.”

 

Section 2.  Legislative Intent

The Legislature finds that:

The safety and well-being of a child must be the primary consideration in all custody and visitation decisions.
Exposure to domestic violence, even indirectly, can cause serious emotional and physical harm to children.
Courts must be equipped to consider not only the conduct of parents, but also other adults residing in the household.
Existing safeguards may not adequately prevent children from being placed in environments with known risks of violence.
Therefore, the Legislature intends to strengthen protections to ensure that no child is placed in a home where credible evidence of violence presents a danger.

 

Section 3.  Definitions

For purposes of this act:

“Domestic violence” has the same meaning as defined in Florida Statute 741.28.
“Violent criminal history” means any conviction, plea, or adjudication involving:
Domestic violence
Assault or aggravated assault
Battery or aggravated battery
Child abuse or neglect
Sexual offenses
“Household member” means any adult residing in the home where the child would stay, whether permanently or temporarily.
“Credible evidence” includes:
Arrest records
Injunctions or protective orders
Pending criminal charges
Prior convictions
Testimony or sworn affidavits

 

Section 4.  Prohibition on Unsafe Placement

A court may not order or permit a child to reside in or have unsupervised visitation in a home if:

A parent or household member has:
A current domestic violence charge, OR
A documented history of domestic violence, OR
A violent criminal history;
AND

The court determines that such presence creates a substantial risk of harm to the child.

 

Section 5.  Mandatory Risk Assessment

Before granting custody or visitation, the court shall:

Conduct a risk assessment when allegations of violence are raised.
Require disclosure of:
All adults living in the home
Any criminal history of those individuals
Consider:
Recency of offenses
Pattern of behavior
Compliance with court orders
Completion of rehabilitation programs

 

Section 6.  Protective Measures

If risk is identified, the court must impose safeguards, which may include:

Supervised visitation only
Exchange of the child at a neutral location
No contact between the child and the individual with a violent history
Mandatory completion of:
Batterer intervention programs
Substance abuse treatment (if applicable)

 

Section 7.  Burden of Proof

The parent seeking custody or visitation in such a household bears the burden to demonstrate that:
The child will be safe, and
Adequate protections are in place

 

Section 8.  Emergency Relief

A parent or guardian may petition for emergency modification of custody if:

New evidence of domestic violence arises, OR
A household member with a violent history moves into the home
The court must hold a hearing on such petitions within 14 days.

 

Section 9.  Penalties for Non-Disclosure

Failure to disclose a household member or known violent history may result in:

Immediate modification of custody
Contempt of court
Possible criminal penalties under perjury statutes

 

Section 10.  Applicability

This law applies to:

All custody determinations
Parenting plans
Time-sharing agreements
Modifications of existing orders

 

Section 11.  Effective Date

This act shall take effect on July 1 following enactment.

 

When it comes to our children’s safety concerning domestic violence, the courts must be proactive and not reactive.  Even if this can’t help my family, perhaps it can help other Florida families moving forward.

Sign this petition to demand change for the safety and protection of our children. Our little ones deserve a future free from violence and fear. Let's work together to make that future a reality. Your signature can make a vital difference.