NY A03346

Bill

Requires the court to consider a child's health and safety when making a decision regarding child custody and visitation; directs the court to review certain information as it relates to allegations of child abuse, domestic violence and child safety; requires the court to appoint an attorney to represent the child when credible allegations of serious risk to the child's safety have been made.

Introduced
02/02/2023

In Committee
01/03/2024

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
12/31/2024

Introduced Session

2023-2024 General Assembly

Bill Summary

AN ACT to amend the domestic relations law, the family court act and the civil practice law and rules, in relation to establishing "Kyra's Law"

AI Summary

This bill, known as "Kyra's Law", makes several key changes to laws regarding child custody and visitation: 1. It establishes that the safety of children is the paramount consideration in custody and visitation decisions, requiring courts to prioritize child safety as a threshold issue. 2. It directs courts to conduct a prompt evidentiary hearing when there are credible allegations of domestic violence, child abuse, or child neglect that pose a serious or imminent risk to the child's safety. The court must then set temporary conditions on custody or visitation to protect the child. 3. It requires courts to consider detailed evidence and findings related to allegations of domestic violence, child abuse, and child neglect when making custody and visitation determinations. 4. It creates a rebuttable presumption against awarding sole or joint unsupervised custody to a parent who poses a serious or imminent risk to the child's safety. 5. It mandates specialized training for judges, referees, and other hearing officers on domestic violence, child abuse, and child safety issues before they can preside over custody proceedings involving such allegations. The bill aims to ensure the court system prioritizes child safety in custody and visitation decisions, particularly when there are allegations of abuse or domestic violence.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (98)

Andrew Hevesi (D)*, George Alvarez (D), Khaleel Anderson (D), Joe Angelino (R), Juan Ardila (D), Jeffrion Aubry (D), Didi Barrett (D), Scott Bendett (R), Michael Benedetto (D), Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn (D), Ken Blankenbush (R), Jake Blumencranz (R), Alex Bores (D), Karl Brabenec (R), Harry Bronson (D), Keith Brown (R), Chris Burdick (D), Kenny Burgos (D), Pat Burke (D), Marianne Buttenschon (D), Sarah Clark (D), William Colton (D), William Conrad (D), Vivian Cook (D), Catalina Cruz (D), Brian Cunningham (D), Brian Curran (R), Taylor Darling (D), Maritza Davila (D), Manny De Los Santos (D), Joe DeStefano (R), Inez Dickens (D), Jeffrey Dinowitz (D), Michael Durso (R), Chris Eachus (D), Harvey Epstein (D), Patricia Fahy (D), Mike Fitzpatrick (R), Ed Flood (R), Jeff Gallahan (R), Jarett Gandolfo (R), Eddie Gibbs (D), Jodi Giglio (R), Jessica González-Rojas (D), Aileen Gunther (D), Steve Hawley (R), Pamela Hunter (D), Chantel Jackson (D), Jonathan Jacobson (D), Kimberly Jean-Pierre (D), Josh Jensen (R), Billy Jones (D), Anna Kelles (D), Charles Lavine (D), Grace Lee (D), Dana Levenberg (D), Donna Lupardo (D), Brian Maher (R), Brian Manktelow (R), John McDonald (D), Dave McDonough (R), Demond Meeks (D), John Mikulin (R), Angelo Morinello (R), Misha Novakhov (R), Steve Otis (D), Amy Paulin (D), Stacey Pheffer Amato (D), Gary Pretlow (D), Ed Ra (R), Steven Raga (D), Phil Ramos (D), Karines Reyes (D), Jonathan Rivera (D), Linda Rosenthal (D), Nader Sayegh (D), Rebecca Seawright (D), Amanda Septimo (D), Maryjane Shimsky (D), Gina Sillitti (D), Jo Anne Simon (D), Tony Simone (D), Matt Simpson (R), Matt Slater (R), Doug Smith (R), Michaelle Solages (D), Phil Steck (D), Steve Stern (D), Al Stirpe (D), Mike Tannousis (R), Yudelka Tapia (D), Al Taylor (D), Fred Thiele (D), Monica Wallace (D), David Weprin (D), Jaime Williams (D), Carrie Woerner (D), Stefani Zinerman (D),

Last Action

print number 3346c (on 05/07/2024)

Bill Topics

Law, Crime, and Family Issues

‐ Child Abuse and Child Custody
‐ Domestic Violence
‐ Family Issues

Official Document

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/A3346

(2 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location	Created
State Bill Page	https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/A3346	02/02/2023
BillText	https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A03346&term=2023&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Text=Y&Committee%26nbspVotes=Y&Floor%26nbspVotes=Y#A03346C	05/08/2024
BillText	https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A03346&term=2023&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Text=Y&Committee%26nbspVotes=Y&Floor%26nbspVotes=Y#A03346B	03/21/2024
BillText	https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A03346&term=2023&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Text=Y&Committee%26nbspVotes=Y&Floor%26nbspVotes=Y#A03346A	03/28/2023
BillText	https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A03346&term=2023&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Text=Y&Committee%26nbspVotes=Y&Floor%26nbspVotes=Y#A03346	02/02/2023

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
A05398	Requires the court to consider a child's health and safety when making a decision regarding child custody and visitation; directs presumptions that may be made by the court and admissibility of certain evidence in such cases; requires court officials to take part in training to handle such cases regarding domestic violence and child abuse.	print number 5398a	Reintroduced
S03170	Requires the court to consider a child's health and safety when making a decision regarding child custody and visitation; directs the court to review certain information as it relates to allegations of child abuse, domestic violence and child safety; requires the court to appoint an attorney to represent the child when credible allegations of serious risk to the child's safety have been made.	PRINT NUMBER 3170C	Same As

Bill > A03346

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (98)

Last Action

Bill Topics

Law, Crime, and Family Issues

Official Document

bill text

bill summary

bill summary

bill summary