Bill > A02451

This bill amends the family court act to strengthen protections for victims of domestic violence by providing that certain criminal convictions related to domestic violence will be considered in family court decisions about visitation, custody, and parental rights. Specifically, the bill expands the list of evidence that can be used in family court proceedings to include previous convictions for crimes like harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, assault, and coercion when these offenses occur between spouses, former spouses, parents and children, or members of the same household. The bill mandates that any parent undergoing mandatory batterer-specific rehabilitation programs lasting at least twelve months must be granted only supervised visitation, even after successfully completing the program. Additionally, the bill clarifies that certain legal privileges (such as spousal confidentiality) cannot be used to exclude otherwise admissible evidence in these proceedings. The goal of the bill is to prioritize the safety of potential victims by giving courts more comprehensive information about a parent's history of violent or abusive behavior when making decisions about family relationships. The act will take effect 60 days after becoming law.

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https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A2451