Bill > A00065

This bill directs the Office of Victim Services, in collaboration with the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, to create a statewide supervised visitation initiative aimed at ensuring safe and structured parenting time for families involved in court cases, particularly those concerning family violence, mental health, or other situations where supervision is crucial for the well-being of children and parents. This initiative will prioritize culturally sensitive services, including language access for those who need it, and ensure affordability for individuals with limited financial means, with provisions for fee waivers. Counties and New York City will be required to submit annual assessments of their local needs for supervised visitation, along with plans to meet these needs and collect data on program usage and effectiveness, specifying the services, the estimated number of families to be served, and the costs. The Office of Victim Services will also be responsible for developing necessary regulations and submitting annual reports to the legislature and governor detailing the programs' progress, effectiveness, and recommendations for improvement.