Bill > A07347

This bill aims to ensure that unmarried fathers whose children have been removed by the state and placed into foster care do not lose their parental rights without a full and fair opportunity to a hearing regarding their fitness to care for their children. Key provisions of the bill include: - Expanding the notice requirements for adoption, surrender, and termination of parental rights proceedings to include unmarried fathers who have taken certain steps to establish their paternity, such as being adjudicated as the father, filing a petition to be adjudicated as the father, or executing an acknowledgement of parentage. - Allowing judges or surrogates discretion in ordering notice to be given to certain persons in judicial surrender and extra-judicial surrender proceedings, rather than making such notice mandatory. - Requiring information about the other parent and other persons who may be entitled to consent to the adoption to be provided upon execution of a surrender instrument. - Clarifying that the sole purpose of notice under the relevant statute is to enable the person served to present evidence relevant to the best interests of the child. The overall goal of the bill is to protect the parental rights of unmarried fathers and ensure that they have a fair opportunity to be heard before their rights are terminated.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2021/A7347