Bill
S 4510
The bill requires courts to consider input from the child’s licensed mental-health professional and applies stricter, factor-based rules before ordering reunification therapy in co
Note on title discrepancy
- The bill number and metadata provided (S-4510) include an incorrect short title about Metropolitan Transportation Authority contracts. The official bill documents you supplied pertain to child custody law—specifically limitations and procedures around reunification therapy and the role of children’s therapists and representatives. This summary addresses the child-custody bill text in the documents.
Overview
- Bill: S-4510 (Senate)
- Subject: Modifies New Jersey child custody law (R.S.9:2‑4) to clarify procedures in contested custody cases, add requirements and factors before ordering reunification therapy, and specify the role of child mental‑health providers and child representatives.
- Primary sponsor: Sen. Jessica Ramos
- Introduced: May 22, 2025
- Status (as of documents): Passed Senate (25–14) June 30, 2025; received in Assembly July 24, 2025 and referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee. Reported out of Senate committees May 29 and June 26, 2025 (with committee amendments).
Purpose / intent
- To ensure custody decisions better reflect the child’s best interests by: (1) adding structured consideration of the child’s treating mental‑health professional’s input; (2) limiting and setting factors for when courts may order reunification therapy; and (3) clarifying legislative findings about case‑by‑case custody determinations.
Key provisions and changes
- Legislative findings: Adds language emphasizing case‑by‑case custody decisions and the paramountcy of children’s best interests while also encouraging frequent contact with both parents when appropriate.
- Mental‑health professional input: The court must consider input and supporting documentation from a State‑licensed treating mental‑health professional for the child, to the extent allowed under the professional’s licensure.
- Reunification therapy — new rules and factors:
- Defines “reunification therapy” as family therapy aiming to reunite or reestablish a relationship between an estranged parent and child.
- Before ordering reunification therapy (or another remedy when there is refusal/resistance to contact), the court must consider a non‑exhaustive list of factors, including:
- reasons, extent, and duration of refusal/resistance (from each parent and the child, if of sufficient maturity);
- the child’s age, capacity, maturity, and special needs;
- willingness of parents and child to engage in therapy;
- conduct by parents that weighs for/against therapy;
- history of prior therapy or interventions and their results;
- any history of domestic violence or evidence of risk to the child’s health, safety, or welfare; and other relevant factors.
- If ordered, the court may appoint a reunification therapist who may coordinate with treating therapists; the reunification therapist must report periodically to the court on participation and progress. The court may modify, suspend, or cease therapy and must put reasons for modifications on the record.
- Guardians ad litem / child attorneys: The amended committee language removed an explicit requirement that a court‑appointed attorney or guardian ad litem must represent the child’s expressed preferences; still, the court may appoint such representatives and may award counsel fees.
- Removed/modified provisions: Committee amendments removed earlier provisions that (a) would have required the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners to develop professional standards for reunification therapy and (b) would have required certain on‑the‑record findings if a court disregarded the child’s preferences.
Who is affected
- Children and parents involved in contested custody cases in New Jersey.
- Family and reunification therapists and other licensed mental‑health providers (who may be asked to provide input or coordinate with a court‑appointed reunification therapist, subject to licensure rules and confidentiality limits).
- Courts, guardians ad litem, and attorneys representing children.
- Potentially the broader child‑welfare and family‑court system through changed procedures.
Procedural/timeline aspects
- Introduced May 22, 2025; reported by Senate committees May 29 and June 26 (with amendments); passed Senate June 30, 2025; received in Assembly July 24, 2025 (referred to Assembly Judiciary).
- The bill text indicates it would take effect immediately upon enactment (per version statements), though committee amendments removed some earlier implementation directives (e.g., rulemaking by a State board).
Fiscal impact
- The Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee noted the bill has not been certified as requiring a fiscal note.
Related legislation
- Companion Assembly bill: A-5761
- Prior-session related bill: S-4994
Notes and caveats
- The bill went through committee amendments that changed several substantive items (notably removal of mandated professional standards development and changes to the role of child representatives). When tracking S‑4510, consult the latest enrolled or committee‑reported text for final language.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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