S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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2977
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 22, 2009
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Introduced by M. of A. BENJAMIN, ALFANO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of
A. HOOPER, MAYERSOHN, McDONOUGH -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the family court act, in relation to establishing inten-
tional paternity fraud
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The family court act is amended by adding a new section
439-b to read as follows:
S 439-B. INTENTIONAL PATERNITY FRAUD. 1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS
SECTION, "INTENTIONAL PATERNITY FRAUD" MEANS ANY PERSON WHO KNOWINGLY
AND WITH INTENT TO DECEIVE ANOTHER PERSON FOR FINANCIAL GAIN OR ANY
OTHER FORM OF CONTROL OVER SUCH PERSON, REPRESENTS THAT A CHILD IS THE
PRODUCT OF A UNION BETWEEN THE TWO PERSONS.
2. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY, EITHER
PARTY WITH A CHILD OR CHILDREN IN COMMON MAY REQUEST A HEARING TO DETER-
MINE WHETHER INTENTIONAL PATERNITY FRAUD EXISTS. THE STANDARD OF PROOF
REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH LIABILITY SHALL BE CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE.
A FINDING OF INTENTIONAL PATERNITY FRAUD AGAINST A PERSON MAY WARRANT AN
ADJUSTMENT TO AN ORDER OF SUPPORT IN FAVOR OF THE PREVAILING PARTY IF
SUCH ADJUSTMENT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD OR CHILDREN IN
COMMON.
3. UPON A FINDING OF INTENTIONAL PATERNITY FRAUD, THE COURT SHALL
ASSESS A CIVIL PENALTY OF A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
THE COURT MAY IN ITS DISCRETION ISSUE AN ORDER OF PROTECTION TO THE
PREVAILING PARTY, AS PROVIDED IN ARTICLE FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY OF THE
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW. THE COURT MAY IN ITS DISCRETION REFER EITHER
PARTY OR BOTH FOR COUNSELING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD OR CHIL-
DREN IN COMMON.
S 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05782-01-9