SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach) introduced Assembly Bill 1931, Kayleigh’s Law, which will allow victims of heinous crimes to seek a lifetime injunction against their perpetrator.
AB 1931 is named Kayleigh’s Law after Kayleigh Kozak, who successfully lobbied for a similar law in her home state of Arizona in 2021. She worked with Kristy von Waldburg, an Orange County native, to urge the bill’s passage into law in California. Kristy is also a childhood sexual abuse survivor who advocates for crime victims. She is involved with local organizations to provide a space of healing and support for survivors.
“After meeting with Kristy it became clear and compelling that we needed to provide a voice for survivors and further protections in the law,” said Assemblymember Dixon. “Specifically, AB 1931 will allow a judge the discretion to issue a lifetime injunction against a defendant at the time of sentencing for a serious felony, a violent felony or a felony sex offense.”
Current law allows for temporary restraining orders, or protective orders, in cases of domestic violence, harassment, elder abuse and other crimes to protect victims. These protective orders only provide short term relief and require a victim to face their perpetrator in a court every time the order is close to expiration.
“The fact that survivors have to face their abusers over and over again to get basic protections is unnecessary and recurring trauma. This bill will provide critical protections for survivors of childhood sexual abuse from their abusers,” said Dixon. “The change will be significant in the lives of California victims of sexual abuse and other serious and violent felonies.”