It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 8-10-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-10 entitled "Family Court" is hereby amended to read as follows:

{ADD 8-10-4. Criminal cases referred to family court. -- ADD} To said family court shall also be referred for hearing, adjustment, reconciliation, decision and sentence all causes properly brought in said court or appealed from other courts in which the defendant is accused, as provided by the statutes, of abandonment of his wife or children, or both, leaving them in danger of becoming public charges; of neglect to provide according to his means for his wife or children, or both; of neglect or refusal of an habitual drunkard to aid in the support of his family; of neglect or refusal by a child over eighteen (18) years of age to provide for the support and maintenance of his father or mother; of threat to commit a crime or offense against the person or property of the defendant's husband, wife, children, father or mother {DEL ; DEL} {ADD . ADD} {DEL assault, assault and battery, or assault with a dangerous weapon, or attempt at such assault, upon the defendant's wife or husband or children, or upon a parent by his child. DEL}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.