Concerns child custody determinations and proceedings; requires child abuse and adverse childhood experiences training.

This bill requires New Jersey courts to implement new training for judges and court staff on child abuse and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which include trauma from abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction. It mandates that training cover all abuse types (physical, sexual, emotional), trauma impacts, bias, and ACEs research, to help courts make trauma-informed custody decisions. The bill also adds specific factors for courts to consider in custody cases, such as whether a parent tried to turn a child against the other parent, past caregiving duties, and the safety of the child during prolonged proceedings. When custody and child abuse cases overlap, courts must expedite decisions to protect the child’s best interests. The training materials, developed with the Department of Children and Families, must be reviewed biennially by judges.