ALBANY, NY (Erie News Now)--FOR TWO YEARS JACQUELINE FRANCHETTI BEGGED THE NASSAU COUNTY COURT HANDLING HER CUSTODY CASE TO PROTECT HER 2-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER KYRA FROM HER EX-BOYFRIEND.  

BUT DESPITE HER ADVOCACY FOR HER DAUGHTER, THE COURT CONTINUED TO ALLOW KYRA’S FATHER VISITATION.  

ON JULY 27, 2016, KYRA WAS SHOT TO DEATH WHILE SHE WAS SLEEPING BY HER FATHER DURING AN UNSUPERVISED COURT MANDATED VISIT.  

“He had murdered her, and no one had believed me for two years that Kyra was in danger that I had been abused, that my daughter was being abused and no one would protect her,” said Franchetti. 

TUESDAY, MANY SOCIAL WORKER STUDENTS AND ADVOCATES RALLIED IN SUPPORT OF legislation NAMED AFTER KYRA -- TO REQUIRE FAMILY COURT TO CONSIDER A CHILD’S HEALTH AND SAFETY DURING CUSTODY PROCEEDINGS.  

THE LEGISLATION ALSO REQUIRES COURT JUDGES TO GO THROUGH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE TRAININGS.  

Franchetti SAid SHE HOPES KYRA’S LAW WILL PASS THIS YEAR NOT JUST TO HONOR HER DAUGHTER BUT FOR THE SAFETY AND well being OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.  

“Our courts are failing at epidemic rates, and this must change. I don’t want to see this happen to another child, another family, or another community,” she said. 

SEN. JAMES SKOUFIS (D-42nd Senate District), A SPONSOR OF THE BILL, SAid THE LEGISLATION THAT HAS FAILED TO PASS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS FACED OPPOSITION FROM THE COURT OF ADMINISTRATION.  

“They’re just uncomfortable with change and uncomfortable with sort of implicitly admitting that what they’ve been doing for all of these years has not been working as well as it should’ve. Everyone likes to think they’re doing a great job,” he said. 

SKOUFIS SAid THEY HAVE MADE amendments TO THE LEGISLATION THAT WILL ADDRESS THE court's CONCERNS.