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- 83rd Session (2025)
Senate Bill No. 275–Senator Cannizzaro
CHAPTER..........
AN ACT relating to domestic relations; prohibiting a court with
jurisdiction over a child custody proceeding from taking
certain actions for the sole purpose of improving a deficient
relationship between a child and a parent of the child under
certain circumstances; prohibiting any such court f rom
ordering a child to receive reunification treatment under
certain circumstances; requiring any such court to consider
certain evidence in making certain findings relating to
allegations of domestic violence or child abuse; requiring the
Administrative Office of the Courts to provide ongoing
training regarding domestic violence , child abuse and best
practices in family court in the regular education provided by
the Office to judges; and providing other matters properly
relating thereto.
Legislative Counsel’s Digest:
Existing law provides that it is the policy of this State to: (1) ensure that minor
children have a continuing relationship with both parents after the parents have
ended their relationship; (2) encourage such parents to share the rights and
responsibilities of child rearing; and (3) establish that such parents have an
equivalent duty to provide their minor children with necessary maintenance,
healthcare, education and support. (NRS 125C.001) Section 5 of this bill: (1)
defines the term “reunification treatment” to mean a treatment or therapy aimed at
reuniting or reestablishing a relationship between a child and an estranged or
rejected parent or other family member of the child; and (2) prohibits a court from
issuing an order requiring a child to receive reunification treatment under certain
circumstances. Section 5 also prohibits a court from removing a child from a parent
or litigant or restricting contact between a child and a parent or litigant for the sole
purpose of improving a deficient relationship between the child and the other parent
of the child under certain circumstances.
Section 6 of this bill provides that in a child custody proceeding in which a
parent is alleged to have committed domestic violence or child abuse, exper t
evidence relating to the alleged domestic violence or child abuse may only be
admitted by a professional who possesses certain expertise and clinical experience.
Section 6 also: (1) requires the court in any such proceeding to consider evidence
of past d omestic violence or child abuse under certain circumstances; and (2)
prohibits the court in any such proceeding from issuing an order to remediate the
resistance of a child to have contact with a parent alleged to have committed
domestic violence or child abuse under certain circumstances.
Existing law requires each judge of the family court to attend a course designed
for the training of new judges within 12 months after taking office. (NRS 3.028)
Section 7 of this bill requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to: (1) include
ongoing training regarding domestic violence , child abuse and best practices in
family court in the regular education provided by the Office to judges; and (2) to
the extent of available funding, offer such training to certai n other persons. Under
section 7, this training must comply with certain provisions of federal law.
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- 83rd Session (2025)
Sections 3 and 4 of this bill define certain terms for the purposes of sections 2-
7 of this bill.
EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Chapter 125C of NRS is hereby amended by adding
thereto the provisions set forth as sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of this
act.
Sec. 2. As used in sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of this act, unless
the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in
sections 3 and 4 of this act have the meanings ascribed to them in
those sections.
Sec. 3. 1. “Child custody proceeding” mean s a proceeding
in which legal custody, physical custody or visitation with respect
to a child is at issue.
2. The term includes a proceeding for divorce, separation,
paternity, child support, termination of parental rights and
protection from domestic violence in which the issue may appear.
3. The term does not include a delinquency proceeding
conducted pur suant to title 5 of NRS , a proceeding to terminate
parental rights pursuant to chapter 128 of NRS or a proceeding
held pursuant to chapter 432B of NRS.
Sec. 4. “Domestic violence” means an act described in
NRS 33.018.
Sec. 5. 1. During a child custody proceeding, the court
shall not:
(a) For the sole purpose of improving a deficient relationship
between a child and the other parent of the child, remove the child
from a parent or litigant or restrict contact between the child and a
parent or litigant who:
(1) Is capable of meeting the needs of the child;
(2) Is protective of the child;
(3) Does not physically or sexually abuse the child or
neglect the child; and
(4) Is a person wi th whom the child is bonded or to whom
the child is attached; or
(b) Issue an order requiring a child to receive reunification
treatment unless:
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- 83rd Session (2025)
(1) The court makes specific findings, based on the papers,
pleadings and arguments presented, that generall y accepted and
scientifically valid proof demonstrates that the treatment is:
(I) Safe, effective and of therapeutic value; and
(II) Will not harm a child; and
(2) The reunification treatment is not predicated on
isolating a child from a parent wh o meets the requirements set
forth in subparagraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, of paragraph (a) or
otherwise prohibiting contact between a child and any such
parent.
2. As used in this section, “reunification treatment” means a
treatment or therapy aimed at reuniting or reestablishing a
relationship between a child and an estranged or rejected parent
or other family member of the child.
Sec. 6. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in a
child custody proceeding in which a parent is alleged to have
committed domestic violence or child abuse:
(a) Expert evidence relating to alleged domestic violence or
child abuse may only be admitted by a professional who possesses
demonstrated expertise and substantial clinical experience that are
not primarily of a forensic nature;
(b) The court shall, in making any finding relating to an
allegation of domestic violence or child abuse, consider all
relevant and admissible evidence of past domestic violence or child
abuse committed by the parent who is the subject of the allegation,
including, without limitation, any evidence which indicates that
the parent has been:
(1) Arrested for or convicted of domestic violence or child
abuse; or
(2) A party against whom an order for prot ection,
restraining order or injunction in the nature of an order for
protection is issued; and
(c) The court shall not issue an order to remediate the
resistance of a child to have contact with a parent alleged to have
committed domestic violence or child abuse unless the order:
(1) Primarily addresses the behavior of the parent with
whom the child resists contact; and
(2) Requires the parent with whom the child resists contact
to take action to remediate the resistance of the child as a
condition pr ecedent to requiring the other parent of the child to
take any action to improve the relationship of the child with the
parent with whom the child resists contact.
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- 83rd Session (2025)
2. For the purposes of this section, an order or injunction is
in the nature of a tempora ry or extended order for protection if it
grants relief that might be given in a temporary or extended order
for protection.
3. As used in this section:
(a) “Child abuse” means:
(1) Physical or mental injury of a nonaccidental nature to a
child under the age of 18 years; or
(2) Sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a child under the
age of 18 years.
(b) “Clinical experience” means experience working with and
on behalf of victims of domestic violence or child abuse.
(c) “Forensic” means provided pursuant to a court order for
the purpose of litigation. The term includes, without limitation, the
evaluation of a parent or child involved in a child custody
proceeding.
(d) “Order for protection” means:
(1) A temporary or extended order for protection against
domestic violence issued pursuant to NRS 33.017 to 33.100,
inclusive;
(2) A temporary or extended order for protection against
stalking, aggravated stalking or harassment issued pursuant to
NRS 200.591; or
(3) A temporary or extended order for protection against
sexual assault issued pursuant to NRS 200.378.
(e) “Sexual abuse” has the meaning ascribed to it in
NRS 432B.100.
(f) “Sexual exploitation” has the meaning ascribed to it in
NRS 432B.110.
Sec. 7. 1. The Administrative Office of the Courts shall:
(a) Include ongoing training regarding domestic violence ,
child abuse and best practices in family court in the regular
education provided by the Office to judges; and
(b) To the extent that money is available for this purpose, offer
such training to:
(1) Other officers of the Judicial Department of the State
Government who preside over judicial proceedings involving
matters within the jurisdiction of the family court, incl uding,
without limitation, magistrates and special masters; and
(2) Court staff who regularly and routinely interact with
persons who are involved in child custody proceedings and
exercise discretion or judgment in those interactions.
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2. The training provided pursuant to subsection 1 must
comply with the applicable requirements of the Violence Against
Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022, Pub. L. No. 117 -103, 34
U.S.C. §§ 12291 et seq.
Sec. 8. This act becomes effective on July 1, 2025.
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