Bill > A04045

This bill modifies provisions in the New York Family Court Act regarding findings in child abuse or neglect proceedings, specifically focusing on how such findings are recorded and their long-term implications. The bill requires that before a respondent admits to or consents to a finding of abuse or neglect, the court must inform them of potential consequences, including how the incident will be documented in the State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment. Under the new provisions, a report of abuse or neglect will remain in the register for ten years after the youngest child's eighteenth birthday, unless vacated or dismissed. The bill also clarifies restrictions on amending such reports and specifies circumstances under which the report may be disclosed to employers screening candidates for positions involving substantial contact with children, such as foster care or childcare. Importantly, the bill introduces nuanced exceptions: for neglect findings, reports may be less accessible if they are eight or more years old, or if a previous administrative proceeding determined the report was not relevant to positions involving children. The changes aim to balance protecting children with providing fair treatment for individuals who have been subject to child abuse or neglect proceedings.

Education, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4045