Assemblyman Brian Miller (R,C-New Hartford) joined his colleagues from both sides of the aisle in the Legislature to show support for Melanie’s Law (A.6026). The proposed law would extend orders of protection to immediate family members and household members of a named victim regardless of their age. Currently, only a victim and minors can be issued orders of protection.

“In matters of harassment and domestic violence, orders of protection are a tool of intervention for the criminal justice system to create consequences for perpetrators, hopefully before there is escalation. That tool of protection should be extended to all members of a household, regardless of one’s age—Melanie’s Law would do just this,” said Miller. “Melanie’s life was taken tragically and I commend her family, even through their pain and sadness, for fighting for better laws to protect victims. I encourage both Houses of the Legislature to pass Melanie’s Law now.”

Melanie Chianese, who the law was named after, was a murder victim at the hands of her mother’s violent ex-boyfriend Paul Senecal. Melanie’s 3-year-old son and her mother, the original victim of Senecal, were issued orders of protection, but since Melanie was an adult she could not be issued the same order of protection. Her mother’s ex continued to ramp up his harassment until it escalated to him slaughtering Melanie. In April 2023, her killer was convicted and sentenced to life without parole, however, having the order of protection would have given law enforcement the tools to proactively address Melanie’s killer’s harassment and could have spared her life.