S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         7597
                                   I N  S E N A T E
                                     May 15, 2014
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  Sen. HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
         printed to be committed to the Committee on Children and Families
       AN ACT to amend the domestic relations law, in relation  to  prohibiting
         the  consideration of evidence that either parent has ever obtained or
         attempted to obtain  reproductive  health  services  relating  to  the
         termination of a pregnancy in certain legal proceedings
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. Subdivision (a) of section 70  of  the  domestic  relations
    2  law,  as  amended by chapter 457 of the laws of 1988, is amended to read
    3  as follows:
    4    (a) Where a minor child is residing within this state,  either  parent
    5  may  apply to the supreme court for a writ of habeas corpus to have such
    6  minor child brought before such court; and on the  return  thereof,  the
    7  court,  on due consideration, may award the natural guardianship, charge
    8  and custody of such child to either parent for  such  time,  under  such
    9  regulations  and  restrictions, and with such provisions and directions,
   10  as the case may require, and may at any time thereafter vacate or modify
   11  such order. In all cases there shall be no  prima  facie  right  to  the
   12  custody  of  the  child  in either parent, but the court shall determine
   13  solely what is for the best interest of the child, and  what  will  best
   14  promote  its  welfare  and  happiness,  and make award accordingly.   IN
   15  MAKING A DETERMINATION OF THE BEST INTEREST OF  THE  CHILD  PURSUANT  TO
   16  THIS  SECTION,  THE COURT SHALL NOT CONSIDER EVIDENCE THAT EITHER PARENT
   17  HAS EVER OBTAINED OR ATTEMPTED TO OBTAIN REPRODUCTIVE  HEALTH  SERVICES.
   18  FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF  THIS SECTION, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES MEANS
   19  HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED IN A HOSPITAL, CLINIC, PHYSICIAN'S  OFFICE
   20  OR OTHER FACILITY AND INCLUDES MEDICAL, SURGICAL, COUNSELING OR REFERRAL
   21  SERVICES  RELATING  TO THE HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM, INCLUDING SERVICES
   22  RELATING TO PREGNANCY OR THE TERMINATION OF A PREGNANCY.
   23    S 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section  240  of  the  domestic
   24  relations law, as amended by chapter 476 of the laws of 2009, is amended
   25  to read as follows:
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD14793-02-4
       S. 7597                             2
    1    (a)  In any action or proceeding brought (1) to annul a marriage or to
    2  declare the nullity of a void marriage, or (2) for a separation, or  (3)
    3  for  a divorce, or (4) to obtain, by a writ of habeas corpus or by peti-
    4  tion and order to show cause, the custody of or right to visitation with
    5  any  child  of  a  marriage, the court shall require verification of the
    6  status of any child of the marriage with respect to such child's custody
    7  and support, including any prior orders,  and  shall  enter  orders  for
    8  custody  and  support  as,  in the court's discretion, justice requires,
    9  having regard to the circumstances of the case  and  of  the  respective
   10  parties  and  to  the  best  interests  of  the child and subject to the
   11  provisions of subdivision one-c of this section.  IN MAKING  A  DETERMI-
   12  NATION  OF  THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, THE
   13  COURT SHALL NOT CONSIDER EVIDENCE THAT EITHER PARENT HAS  EVER  OBTAINED
   14  OR ATTEMPTED TO OBTAIN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES. FOR THE PURPOSES OF
   15  THIS  SECTION,  REPRODUCTIVE  HEALTH SERVICES MEANS HEALTH CARE SERVICES
   16  PROVIDED IN A HOSPITAL, CLINIC, PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE OR OTHER FACILITY AND
   17  INCLUDES MEDICAL, SURGICAL, COUNSELING OR REFERRAL SERVICES RELATING  TO
   18  THE  HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM, INCLUDING SERVICES RELATING TO PREGNANCY
   19  OR THE TERMINATION OF A PREGNANCY.  Where  either  party  to  an  action
   20  concerning custody of or a right to visitation with a child alleges in a
   21  sworn  petition  or  complaint or sworn answer, cross-petition, counter-
   22  claim or other sworn  responsive  pleading  that  the  other  party  has
   23  committed an act of domestic violence against the party making the alle-
   24  gation  or  a family or household member of either party, as such family
   25  or household member is defined in article eight of the family court act,
   26  and such allegations are proven by a preponderance of the evidence,  the
   27  court  must  consider the effect of such domestic violence upon the best
   28  interests of the child, together with such other facts and circumstances
   29  as the court deems relevant in  making  a  direction  pursuant  to  this
   30  section  and  state  on  the record how such findings, facts and circum-
   31  stances factored into the direction. If a  parent  makes  a  good  faith
   32  allegation  based  on  a  reasonable  belief supported by facts that the
   33  child is the victim of child abuse, child neglect,  or  the  effects  of
   34  domestic violence, and if that parent acts lawfully and in good faith in
   35  response  to  that reasonable belief to protect the child or seek treat-
   36  ment for the child, then that parent shall not be deprived  of  custody,
   37  visitation  or contact with the child, or restricted in custody, visita-
   38  tion or contact, based solely on that belief or the  reasonable  actions
   39  taken  based  on that belief. If an allegation that a child is abused is
   40  supported by a preponderance of  the  evidence,  then  the  court  shall
   41  consider  such  evidence of abuse in determining the visitation arrange-
   42  ment that is in the best interest of the child, and the court shall  not
   43  place a child in the custody of a parent who presents a substantial risk
   44  of  harm  to that child, and shall state on the record how such findings
   45  were factored into the determination. An order directing the payment  of
   46  child  support  shall  contain  the social security numbers of the named
   47  parties. In all cases there shall be no prima facie right to the custody
   48  of the child in either parent. Such direction shall make  provision  for
   49  child  support  out of the property of either or both parents. The court
   50  shall make its award for child support pursuant to subdivision one-b  of
   51  this  section.  Such  direction  may  provide  for reasonable visitation
   52  rights to the maternal and/or paternal grandparents of any child of  the
   53  parties.  Such  direction  as  it applies to rights of visitation with a
   54  child remanded or placed in the care of a person,  official,  agency  or
   55  institution pursuant to article ten of the family court act, or pursuant
   56  to  an  instrument approved under section three hundred fifty-eight-a of
       S. 7597                             3
    1  the social services law, shall be enforceable pursuant to part eight  of
    2  article  ten  of  the family court act and sections three hundred fifty-
    3  eight-a and three hundred eighty-four-a of the social services  law  and
    4  other  applicable  provisions  of law against any person having care and
    5  custody, or temporary care and custody, of  the  child.  Notwithstanding
    6  any  other  provision  of  law, any written application or motion to the
    7  court for the establishment, modification  or  enforcement  of  a  child
    8  support  obligation  for persons not in receipt of public assistance and
    9  care must  contain  either  a  request  for  child  support  enforcement
   10  services  which would authorize the collection of the support obligation
   11  by the immediate issuance of an income execution for support enforcement
   12  as provided for by this chapter, completed in the  manner  specified  in
   13  section  one hundred eleven-g of the social services law; or a statement
   14  that the applicant has applied for or is in receipt of such services; or
   15  a statement that  the  applicant  knows  of  the  availability  of  such
   16  services,  has  declined them at this time and where support enforcement
   17  services pursuant to section one hundred eleven-g of the social services
   18  law have been declined that the applicant  understands  that  an  income
   19  deduction  order  may  be  issued pursuant to subdivision (c) of section
   20  fifty-two hundred forty-two of the civil practice law and rules  without
   21  other child support enforcement services and that payment of an adminis-
   22  trative  fee may be required. The court shall provide a copy of any such
   23  request for child support enforcement services to the support collection
   24  unit of the appropriate social services district  any  time  it  directs
   25  payments  to  be made to such support collection unit. Additionally, the
   26  copy of any such request shall be accompanied by the name,  address  and
   27  social  security  number  of  the  parties;  the  date  and place of the
   28  parties' marriage; the name and date of birth of the child or  children;
   29  and the name and address of the employers and income payors of the party
   30  from whom child support is sought or from the party ordered to pay child
   31  support  to the other party. Such direction may require the payment of a
   32  sum or sums of money either directly to the custodial parent or to third
   33  persons for goods or services furnished for  such  child,  or  for  both
   34  payments  to  the  custodial parent and to such third persons; provided,
   35  however, that unless the party seeking or receiving  child  support  has
   36  applied  for  or  is receiving such services, the court shall not direct
   37  such payments to be made to the support collection unit, as  established
   38  in  section one hundred eleven-h of the social services law. Every order
   39  directing the payment of support shall require  that  if  either  parent
   40  currently,  or  at any time in the future, has health insurance benefits
   41  available that may be extended or obtained  to  cover  the  child,  such
   42  parent  is  required  to  exercise  the option of additional coverage in
   43  favor of such child and execute and deliver to such  person  any  forms,
   44  notices,  documents or instruments necessary to assure timely payment of
   45  any health insurance claims for such child.
   46    S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.