S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  7807

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              June 20, 2012
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  OPPENHEIMER -- read twice and ordered printed, and
  when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules

AN ACT to amend the domestic relations law and the family court act,  in
  relation to changing the denotation of visitation to parenting time

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1.  Legislative  intent.  The  legislature  hereby  finds  and
declares  that the term "visitation" carries a negative connotation with
respect to noncustodial parents who want to be a  part  of  their  chil-
dren's  lives. Society has given the term "visitation" a negative conno-
tation that can be associated with  the  visiting  of  an  inmate  at  a
correctional  facility  or prison. The purpose of this act is to reflect
the fact that a parent's time with a child is not merely  as  a  visitor
but constitutes parenting time.
  S  1-a. Section 2 of the domestic relations law, as amended by chapter
920 of the laws of 1974, is amended to read as follows:
  S 2. Definitions. AS USED IN THIS CHAPTER:
  1. A "minor" or "infant", [as used in this chapter,] is a person under
the age of eighteen years.
  2. "VISITATION" REFERS TO TIME PERMITTED TO  BE  SPENT  WITH  A  CHILD
PURSUANT TO A COURT ORDER UNDER THIS CHAPTER, THE FAMILY COURT ACT OR AN
ORDER  ENFORCED UNDER ARTICLE FIVE-A OF THIS CHAPTER, BY A PERSON WHO IS
NOT A PARENT OF THE CHILD. THIS SHALL INCLUDE GRANDPARENTS, SIBLINGS AND
STEP-PARENTS.
  3. "PARENTING TIME" REFERS TO THE PERIOD OF TIME  THAT  A  PARENT  MAY
SPEND  WITH  HIS OR HER CHILD PURSUANT TO A COURT ORDER UNDER THIS CHAP-
TER, THE FAMILY COURT ACT OR AN ORDER ENFORCED UNDER ARTICLE  FIVE-A  OF
THIS CHAPTER.
  S  2.  Subdivision (b) of section 70 of the domestic relations law, as
added by chapter 457 of the laws of 1988, is amended to read as follows:
  (b) Any order under this section which applies to rights  of  [visita-
tion]  PARENTING  TIME  with a child remanded or placed in the care of a
person, official, agency or institution pursuant to article ten  of  the
family  court  act  or  pursuant to an instrument approved under section

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD15922-04-2

S. 7807                             2

three hundred  fifty-eight-a  of  the  social  services  law,  shall  be
enforceable  pursuant  to the provisions of part eight of article ten of
such act, sections three hundred fifty-eight-a and three hundred  eight-
y-four-a  of  the social services law and other applicable provisions of
law against any person or official having care and custody, or temporary
care and custody, of such child.
  S 3. Subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 75-a of  the  domestic  relations
law, as added by chapter 386 of the laws of 2001, are amended to read as
follows:
  3.  "Child  custody  determination" means a judgment, decree, or other
order of a court providing for the legal custody, physical  custody,  or
[visitation] PARENTING TIME with respect to a child. The term includes a
permanent, temporary, initial, and modification order. The term does not
include  an order relating to child support or other monetary obligation
of an individual.
  4. "Child custody proceeding" means a proceeding in which legal custo-
dy, physical custody, [or] visitation OR PARENTING TIME with respect  to
a  child  is an issue. The term includes a proceeding for divorce, sepa-
ration, neglect, abuse, dependency, guardianship, paternity, termination
of parental rights, and protection from domestic violence, in which  the
issue may appear. The term does not include a proceeding involving juve-
nile  delinquency,  person in need of supervision, contractual emancipa-
tion, or enforcement under title three of this article.
  S 4. Subdivision 1 of section 235 of the domestic  relations  law,  as
amended  by  chapter  122  of  the  laws  of 1979, is amended to read as
follows:
  1. An officer of the court with whom the proceedings in a  matrimonial
action  or  a written agreement of separation or an action or proceeding
for custody, [visitation] PARENTING TIME or maintenance of a  child  are
filed,  or  before  whom  the  testimony  is taken, or his clerk, either
before or after the termination of the suit, shall not permit a copy  of
any  of the pleadings, affidavits, findings of fact, conclusions of law,
judgment of dissolution, written agreement of separation  or  memorandum
thereof,  or  testimony,  or  any  examination or perusal thereof, to be
taken by any other person than a party, or the attorney or counsel of  a
party, except by order of the court.
  S  5. Subdivision (b) of section 237 of the domestic relations law, as
amended by chapter 329 of the laws  of  2010,  is  amended  to  read  as
follows:
  (b) Upon any application to enforce, annul or modify an order or judg-
ment for alimony, maintenance, distributive award, distribution of mari-
tal property or for custody, [visitation,] PARENTING TIME or maintenance
of  a  child,  made  as in section two hundred thirty-six or section two
hundred forty of this article provided, or upon any application by  writ
of  habeas  corpus  or  by  petition  and order to show cause concerning
custody, [visitation] PARENTING TIME or  maintenance  of  a  child,  the
court  may  direct  a  spouse or parent to pay counsel fees and fees and
expenses of experts directly to the attorney  of  the  other  spouse  or
parent  to  enable the other party to carry on or defend the application
or proceeding  by  the  other  spouse  or  parent  as,  in  the  court's
discretion,  justice requires, having regard to the circumstances of the
case and of the respective parties. There shall be a rebuttable presump-
tion that counsel fees shall be awarded to the less  monied  spouse.  In
exercising  the  court's discretion, the court shall seek to assure that
each party shall be adequately  represented  and  that  where  fees  and
expenses  are  to  be  awarded, they shall be awarded on a timely basis,

S. 7807                             3

pendente  lite,  so  as  to  enable  adequate  representation  from  the
commencement  of  the proceeding. Applications for the award of fees and
expenses may be made at any time or times prior to final judgment.  Both
parties  to  the  action  or  proceeding and their respective attorneys,
shall file an affidavit with the court detailing  the  financial  agree-
ment,  between  the party and the attorney. Such affidavit shall include
the amount of any retainer, the amounts paid and still owing thereunder,
the hourly amount charged by the attorney, the amounts paid,  or  to  be
paid,  any experts, and any additional costs, disbursements or expenses.
Any applications for fees and expenses may be maintained by the attorney
for either spouse in counsel's own name in the same proceeding.  Payment
of any retainer fees to the attorney for the petitioning party shall not
preclude  any  awards  of  fees and expenses to an applicant which would
otherwise be allowed under this section.
  S 6. Paragraphs (a) and (a-1) of subdivision 1 of section 240  of  the
domestic  relations  law, paragraph (a) as amended by chapter 476 of the
laws of 2009 and paragraph (a-1) as amended by chapter 295 of  the  laws
of 2009, are amended to read as follows:
  (a)  In any action or proceeding brought (1) to annul a marriage or to
declare the nullity of a void marriage, or (2) for a separation, or  (3)
for  a divorce, or (4) to obtain, by a writ of habeas corpus or by peti-
tion and order to show cause, the custody of or  right  to  [visitation]
PARENTING  TIME  with  any  child of a marriage, the court shall require
verification of the status of any child of the marriage with respect  to
such  child's custody and support, including any prior orders, and shall
enter orders for custody and support  as,  in  the  court's  discretion,
justice  requires, having regard to the circumstances of the case and of
the respective parties and to  the  best  interests  of  the  child  and
subject  to  the  provisions of subdivision one-c of this section. Where
either party to an action concerning custody of or a right  to  [visita-
tion]  PARENTING  TIME  with  a  child  alleges  in  a sworn petition or
complaint or sworn answer, cross-petition, counterclaim or  other  sworn
responsive  pleading that the other party has committed an act of domes-
tic violence against the party making the  allegation  or  a  family  or
household  member of either party, as such family or household member is
defined in article eight of the family court act, and  such  allegations
are  proven  by a preponderance of the evidence, the court must consider
the effect of such domestic violence upon  the  best  interests  of  the
child,  together  with  such  other facts and circumstances as the court
deems relevant in making a direction pursuant to this section and  state
on  the  record how such findings, facts and circumstances factored into
the direction. If a parent makes a good  faith  allegation  based  on  a
reasonable  belief  supported  by  facts that the child is the victim of
child abuse, child neglect, or the effects of domestic violence, and  if
that  parent acts lawfully and in good faith in response to that reason-
able belief to protect the child or seek treatment for the  child,  then
that  parent  shall  not  be deprived of custody, [visitation] PARENTING
TIME or contact with the child, or restricted in  custody,  [visitation]
PARENTING TIME or contact, based solely on that belief or the reasonable
actions  taken  based  on  that belief. If an allegation that a child is
abused is supported by a preponderance of the evidence, then  the  court
shall  consider  such  evidence  of abuse in determining the [visitation
arrangement] PARENTING TIME that is in the best interest of  the  child,
and  the  court  shall  not place a child in the custody of a parent who
presents a substantial risk of harm to that child, and  shall  state  on
the  record  how  such findings were factored into the determination. An

S. 7807                             4

order directing the payment of child support shall  contain  the  social
security  numbers  of  the named parties. In all cases there shall be no
prima facie right to the custody of the child  in  either  parent.  Such
direction  shall make provision for child support out of the property of
either or both parents. The court shall make its award for child support
pursuant to subdivision  one-b  of  this  section.  Such  direction  may
provide for reasonable visitation rights to the maternal and/or paternal
grandparents  of  any child of the parties. Such direction as it applies
to rights of [visitation] PARENTING TIME with a child remanded or placed
in the care of a person, official, agency  or  institution  pursuant  to
article  ten  of  the  family  court  act,  or pursuant to an instrument
approved  under  section  three  hundred  fifty-eight-a  of  the  social
services law, shall be enforceable pursuant to part eight of article ten
of  the  family  court  act and sections three hundred fifty-eight-a and
three hundred eighty-four-a of the social services law and other  appli-
cable  provisions  of law against any person having care and custody, or
temporary care and custody, of  the  child.  Notwithstanding  any  other
provision of law, any written application or motion to the court for the
establishment, modification or enforcement of a child support obligation
for  persons  not  in receipt of public assistance and care must contain
either a request for child  support  enforcement  services  which  would
authorize  the  collection  of  the  support obligation by the immediate
issuance of an income execution for support enforcement as provided  for
by  this  chapter,  completed  in  the  manner  specified in section one
hundred eleven-g of the social services law; or  a  statement  that  the
applicant has applied for or is in receipt of such services; or a state-
ment  that the applicant knows of the availability of such services, has
declined them at this time and where support enforcement services pursu-
ant to section one hundred eleven-g of the social services law have been
declined that the applicant understands that an income  deduction  order
may  be  issued pursuant to subdivision (c) of section fifty-two hundred
forty-two of the civil  practice  law  and  rules  without  other  child
support  enforcement  services and that payment of an administrative fee
may be required. The court shall provide a copy of any such request  for
child support enforcement services to the support collection unit of the
appropriate  social services district any time it directs payments to be
made to such support collection unit. Additionally, the copy of any such
request shall be accompanied by the name, address  and  social  security
number  of the parties; the date and place of the parties' marriage; the
name and date of birth of the  child  or  children;  and  the  name  and
address  of the employers and income payors of the party from whom child
support is sought or from the party ordered to pay child support to  the
other  party. Such direction may require the payment of a sum or sums of
money either directly to the custodial parent or to  third  persons  for
goods  or services furnished for such child, or for both payments to the
custodial parent and to such  third  persons;  provided,  however,  that
unless  the  party seeking or receiving child support has applied for or
is receiving such services, the court shall not direct such payments  to
be  made  to  the support collection unit, as established in section one
hundred eleven-h of the social services law. Every order  directing  the
payment  of support shall require that if either parent currently, or at
any time in the future, has health insurance benefits available that may
be extended or obtained to cover the child, such parent is  required  to
exercise  the  option  of additional coverage in favor of such child and
execute and deliver to such person  any  forms,  notices,  documents  or

S. 7807                             5

instruments  necessary  to assure timely payment of any health insurance
claims for such child.
  (a-1)(1) Permanent and initial temporary orders of custody or [visita-
tion] PARENTING TIME.  Prior to the issuance of any permanent or initial
temporary  order  of  custody  or [visitation] PARENTING TIME, the court
shall conduct a review of the decisions and reports listed  in  subpara-
graph three of this paragraph.
  (2)  Successive  temporary orders of custody or [visitation] PARENTING
TIME.  Prior to the issuance of any successive temporary order of custo-
dy or [visitation] PARENTING TIME, the court shall conduct a  review  of
the  decisions  and  reports  listed in subparagraph three of this para-
graph, unless such a review has been conducted within ninety days  prior
to the issuance of such order.
  (3) Decisions and reports for review. The court shall conduct a review
of the following:
  (i) related decisions in court proceedings initiated pursuant to arti-
cle ten of the family court act, and all warrants issued under the fami-
ly court act; and
  (ii)  reports  of  the  statewide  computerized  registry of orders of
protection established and maintained pursuant to  section  two  hundred
twenty-one-a  of  the  executive  law,  and  reports of the sex offender
registry established and maintained  pursuant  to  section  one  hundred
sixty-eight-b of the correction law.
  (4)  Notifying counsel and issuing orders. Upon consideration of deci-
sions pursuant to article ten of the  family  court  act,  and  registry
reports  and  notifying  counsel  involved  in the proceeding, or in the
event of a self-represented party, notifying such party of  the  results
thereof,  including any court appointed attorney for children, the court
may issue a temporary, successive temporary or final order of custody or
[visitation] PARENTING TIME.
  (5) Temporary emergency order. Notwithstanding any other provision  of
the  law, upon emergency situations, including computer malfunctions, to
serve the best interest of the child, the court may  issue  a  temporary
emergency  order for custody or [visitation] PARENTING TIME in the event
that it is not possible to timely review decisions and reports on regis-
tries as required pursuant to subparagraph three of this paragraph.
  (6) After issuing a temporary emergency order. After issuing a  tempo-
rary  emergency  order  of  custody  or [visitation] PARENTING TIME, the
court shall conduct reviews of the decisions and reports  on  registries
as  required  pursuant  to  subparagraph  three of this paragraph within
twenty-four hours of the issuance of  such  temporary  emergency  order.
Should  such  twenty-four hour period fall on a day when court is not in
session, then the required reviews shall take place  the  next  day  the
court  is  in  session.  Upon  reviewing decisions and reports the court
shall notify associated counsel, self-represented parties and  attorneys
for  children  pursuant  to  subparagraph four of this paragraph and may
issue temporary or permanent  custody  or  [visitation]  PARENTING  TIME
orders.
  (7)  Feasibility study. The commissioner of the office of children and
family services, in conjunction with the office of court administration,
is hereby authorized and directed to examine, study, evaluate  and  make
recommendations concerning the feasibility of the utilization of comput-
ers  in  courts which are connected to the statewide central register of
child abuse and maltreatment  established  and  maintained  pursuant  to
section  four  hundred twenty-two of the social services law, as a means
of providing courts with information regarding parties requesting orders

S. 7807                             6

of custody or [visitation] PARENTING TIME.  Such commissioner shall make
a preliminary report to the governor and the  legislature  of  findings,
conclusions  and recommendations not later than January first, two thou-
sand  nine,  and a final report of findings, conclusions and recommenda-
tions not later than June first, two thousand  nine,  and  shall  submit
with  the  reports such legislative proposals as are deemed necessary to
implement the commissioner's recommendations.
  S 7. Subdivision 1-a of section 240 of the domestic relations law,  as
amended  by  chapter  12  of  the  laws  of  1996, is amended to read as
follows:
  1-a. In any proceeding brought pursuant to this section  to  determine
the  custody  or [visitation] PARENTING TIME of minors, a report made to
the statewide central register of child abuse and maltreatment, pursuant
to title six of article six of the social services  law,  or  a  portion
thereof,  which is otherwise admissible as a business record pursuant to
rule forty-five hundred eighteen of the civil  practice  law  and  rules
shall  not  be admissible in evidence, notwithstanding such rule, unless
an investigation of such report conducted pursuant to title six of arti-
cle six of the social services law has determined  that  there  is  some
credible  evidence  of  the  alleged  abuse or maltreatment and that the
subject of the report has been notified that the  report  is  indicated.
In  addition, if such report has been reviewed by the state commissioner
of [social] THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY services or  his  designee
and  has  been determined to be unfounded, it shall not be admissible in
evidence. If such report has been so reviewed and has  been  amended  to
delete  any  finding, each such deleted finding shall not be admissible.
If the state commissioner of [social] THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND  FAMILY
services  or his designee has amended the report to add any new finding,
each such new finding, together with any portion of the original  report
not  deleted by [the] SUCH commissioner or his designee, shall be admis-
sible if it meets the other requirements  of  this  subdivision  and  is
otherwise  admissible as a business record. If such a report, or portion
thereof, is admissible in evidence but is uncorroborated, it  shall  not
be  sufficient  to  make a fact finding of abuse or maltreatment in such
proceeding. Any other evidence tending to  support  the  reliability  of
such report shall be sufficient corroboration.
  S 8. Subparagraph 9 of paragraph (f) of subdivision 1-b of section 240
of  the  domestic  relations law, as added by chapter 567 of the laws of
1989, is amended to read as follows:
  (9) Provided that the child is not on public assistance  (i)  extraor-
dinary  expenses  incurred  by  the  non-custodial  parent in exercising
[visitation] PARENTING TIME, or (ii) expenses incurred by the non-custo-
dial parent in extended [visitation] PARENTING TIME  provided  that  the
custodial parent's expenses are substantially reduced as a result there-
of; and
  S  9.  Paragraph  c  of  subdivision  3 of section 240 of the domestic
relations law, as amended by chapter 597 of the laws of 1998, is amended
to read as follows:
  c. An order of protection entered pursuant to this subdivision may  be
made  in the final judgment in any matrimonial action or in a proceeding
to obtain custody of or [visitation] PARENTING TIME with any child under
this section, or by one or more orders  from  time  to  time  before  or
subsequent  to  final  judgment, or by both such order or orders and the
final judgment. The order of protection may remain in effect after entry
of a final matrimonial judgment and during the  minority  of  any  child
whose  custody  or  [visitation]  PARENTING  TIME  is  the  subject of a

S. 7807                             7

provision of a final judgment or any order. An order of  protection  may
be  entered  notwithstanding  that  the court for any reason whatsoever,
other than lack of jurisdiction, refuses to grant the  relief  requested
in the action or proceeding.
  S 10. Section 241 of the domestic relations law, as amended by chapter
892 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows:
  S 241. Interference with or withholding of [visitation] PARENTING TIME
rights; alimony or maintenance suspension. When it appears to the satis-
faction  of the court that a custodial parent receiving alimony or main-
tenance pursuant to an order, judgment or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction has wrongfully interfered  with  or  withheld  [visitation]
PARENTING  TIME  rights  provided by such order, judgment or decree, the
court, in its discretion,  may  suspend  such  payments  or  cancel  any
arrears  that may have accrued during the time that [visitation] PARENT-
ING TIME rights have been or are  being  interfered  with  or  withheld.
Nothing  in  this  section shall constitute a defense in any court to an
application to enforce payment of  child  support  or  grounds  for  the
cancellation of arrears for child support.
  S  11.  Section 251 of the domestic relations law, as added by chapter
164 of the laws of 1973, is amended to read as follows:
  S 251. Filing of order in family court. When, in a matrimonial action,
the supreme court refers the issues of support, custody or  [visitation]
PARENTING  TIME to the family court, the order or judgment shall provide
that a copy thereof shall be filed by the plaintiff's  attorney,  within
ten days, with the clerk of the family court therein specified.
  S  12.  Paragraph  (b) of subdivision 1 of section 252 of the domestic
relations law, as amended by chapter 349 of the laws of 1995, is amended
to read as follows:
  (b) to permit a parent, or a person entitled to visitation OR  PARENT-
ING  TIME by a court order or a separation agreement, to [visit] BE WITH
the child at stated periods;
  S 13. Subdivision 3 of section 252 of the domestic relations  law,  as
added by chapter 349 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
  3.  An order of protection entered pursuant to this subdivision may be
made in the final judgment in any matrimonial action, or by one or  more
orders  from  time to time before or subsequent to final judgment, or by
both such  order  or  orders  and  the  final  judgment.  The  order  of
protection may remain in effect after entry of a final matrimonial judg-
ment  and during the minority of any child whose custody or [visitation]
PARENTING TIME is the subject of a provision of a final judgment or  any
order.  An  order  of protection may be entered notwithstanding that the
court for any  reason  whatsoever,  other  than  lack  of  jurisdiction,
refuses to grant the relief requested in the action or proceeding.
  S  14. Subparagraph 9 of paragraph (f) of subdivision 1 of section 413
of the family court act, as amended by chapter 567 of the laws of  1989,
is amended to read as follows:
  (9)  Provided  that the child is not on public assistance (i) extraor-
dinary expenses incurred  by  the  non-custodial  parent  in  exercising
[visitation] PARENTING TIME, or (ii) expenses incurred by the non-custo-
dial  parent  in  extended [visitation] PARENTING TIME provided that the
custodial parent's expenses are substantially reduced as a result there-
of; and
  S 15. Subdivisions (a) and (c) of section 439 of the family court act,
as amended by section 1 of chapter 576 of the laws of 2005, are  amended
to read as follows:

S. 7807                             8

  (a) The chief administrator of the courts shall provide, in accordance
with  subdivision  (f)  of this section, for the appointment of a suffi-
cient number of  support  magistrates  to  hear  and  determine  support
proceedings.  Except  as hereinafter provided, support magistrates shall
be  empowered  to hear, determine and grant any relief within the powers
of the court in  any  proceeding  under  this  article,  articles  five,
five-A,  and five-B and sections two hundred thirty-four and two hundred
thirty-five of this act, and objections raised pursuant to section  five
thousand  two  hundred  forty-one  of  the civil practice law and rules.
Support magistrates shall not be empowered to hear, determine and  grant
any  relief  with  respect  to  issues  specified in subdivision five of
section four hundred fifty-four or section four  hundred  fifty-five  of
this  [act]  ARTICLE,  issues of contested paternity involving claims of
equitable  estoppel,  custody,  [visitation]  PARENTING  TIME  including
[visitation]  PARENTING  TIME  as a defense, and orders of protection or
exclusive possession of the home, which shall be referred to a judge  as
provided  in  subdivision  (b) or (c) of this section. Where an order of
filiation is issued by a judge  in  a  paternity  proceeding  and  child
support is in issue, the judge, or support magistrate upon referral from
the  judge, shall be authorized to immediately make a temporary or final
order of support, as applicable. A support  magistrate  shall  have  the
authority  to  hear and decide motions and issue summonses and subpoenas
to produce persons pursuant to section one hundred fifty-three  of  this
act,  hear  and  decide  proceedings  and  issue any order authorized by
subdivision (g) of section five thousand two hundred  forty-one  of  the
civil  practice  law  and  rules,  issue  subpoenas to produce prisoners
pursuant to section two thousand three hundred two of the civil practice
law and rules and make  a  determination  that  any  person  before  the
support  magistrate  is in violation of an order of the court as author-
ized by section one hundred fifty-six of this act subject  to  confirma-
tion  by  a  judge of the court who shall impose any punishment for such
violation as provided by law. A determination by  a  support  magistrate
that  a  person  is  in  willful violation of an order under subdivision
three of section four hundred fifty-four of this article and that recom-
mends commitment shall be transmitted to  the  parties,  accompanied  by
findings  of  fact, but the determination shall have no force and effect
until confirmed by a judge of the court.
  (c) The support magistrate, in any proceeding in which  issues  speci-
fied in section four hundred fifty-five of this act, or issues of custo-
dy,  [visitation]  PARENTING TIME, including [visitation] PARENTING TIME
as a defense, orders of protection or exclusive possession of  the  home
are present or in which paternity is contested on the grounds of equita-
ble  estoppel,  shall  make  a  temporary order of support and refer the
proceeding to a judge. Upon determination of such issue by a judge,  the
judge  may  make a final determination of the issue of support, or imme-
diately refer  the  proceeding  to  a  support  magistrate  for  further
proceedings regarding child support or other matters within the authori-
ty of the support magistrate.
  S  16.  Subdivision  (a)  of  section  439 of the family court act, as
amended by section 2 of chapter 576 of the laws of 2005, is  amended  to
read as follows:
  (a) The chief administrator of the courts shall provide, in accordance
with  subdivision  (f)  of this section, for the appointment of a suffi-
cient number of  support  magistrates  to  hear  and  determine  support
proceedings.  Except  as hereinafter provided, support magistrates shall
be empowered to hear, determine and grant any relief within  the  powers

S. 7807                             9

of  the  court  in  any  proceeding  under  this article, articles five,
five-A, and five-B and sections two hundred thirty-four and two  hundred
thirty-five  of this act, and objections raised pursuant to section five
thousand  two  hundred  forty-one  of  the civil practice law and rules.
Support magistrates shall not be empowered to hear, determine and  grant
any  relief  with  respect  to  issues specified in section four hundred
fifty-five of this [act] ARTICLE, issues of contested paternity  involv-
ing  claims  of equitable estoppel, custody, [visitation] PARENTING TIME
including [visitation] PARENTING  TIME  as  a  defense,  and  orders  of
protection  or exclusive possession of the home, which shall be referred
to a judge as provided in subdivision (b) or (c) of this section.  Where
an order of filiation is issued by a judge in a paternity proceeding and
child  support is in issue, the judge, or support magistrate upon refer-
ral from the judge, shall be authorized to immediately make a  temporary
or  final  order  of  support, as applicable. A support magistrate shall
have the authority to hear and decide motions and  issue  summonses  and
subpoenas to produce persons pursuant to section one hundred fifty-three
of  this act, hear and decide proceedings and issue any order authorized
by subdivision (g) of section five thousand two hundred forty-one of the
civil practice law and  rules,  issue  subpoenas  to  produce  prisoners
pursuant to section two thousand three hundred two of the civil practice
law  and  rules  and  make  a  determination  that any person before the
support magistrate is in violation of an order of the court  as  author-
ized  by  section one hundred fifty-six of this act subject to confirma-
tion by a judge of the court who shall impose any  punishment  for  such
violation  as  provided  by law. A determination by a support magistrate
that a person is in willful violation  of  an  order  under  subdivision
three of section four hundred fifty-four of this article and that recom-
mends  commitment  shall  be  transmitted to the parties, accompanied by
findings of fact, but the determination shall have no force  and  effect
until confirmed by a judge of the court.
  S  17.  Subdivision  (b)  of  section  446 of the family court act, as
amended by chapter 483 of the laws  of  1995,  is  amended  to  read  as
follows:
  (b)  to permit a parent, or a person entitled to visitation OR PARENT-
ING TIME by a court order or a separation agreement, to [visit] BE  WITH
the child at stated periods;
  S  18. Section 447 of the family court act, subdivision (a) as amended
by chapter 85 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
  S 447. Order of [visitation] PARENTING TIME.  (a) In the absence of an
order of custody or  of  [visitation]  PARENTING  TIME  entered  by  the
supreme court, the court may make an order of custody or of [visitation]
PARENTING  TIME,  in  accordance  with  subdivision  one  of section two
hundred forty of the domestic relations law,  requiring  one  parent  to
permit the other to [visit] BE WITH the children at stated periods with-
out  an order of protection, even where the parents are divorced and the
support order is for a child only.
  (b) Any order of the family court under this section  shall  terminate
when  the  supreme  court  makes  an order of custody or of [visitation]
PARENTING TIME concerning the children, unless the supreme court contin-
ues the order of the family court.
  S 19. Subdivision (a) of section 456  of  the  family  court  act,  as
amended  by  chapter  809  of  the  laws  of 1963, is amended to read as
follows:
  (a) No person may be placed on probation under this article unless the
court makes an order to that effect, either at the time of the making of

S. 7807                            10

an order of support or under section four  hundred  fifty-four  OF  THIS
PART.  The  period  of  probation  may  continue  so long as an order of
support, order of protection or order  of  [visitation]  PARENTING  TIME
applies to such person.
  S 20. Subdivisions (a) and (b) of section 467 of the family court act,
as  amended  by  chapter  40 of the laws of 1981, are amended to read as
follows:
  (a) In an action for divorce, separation  or  annulment,  the  supreme
court may refer to the family court the determination of applications to
fix  temporary  or  permanent  custody  or  [visitation] PARENTING TIME,
applications to enforce judgments and orders of custody or  [visitation]
PARENTING  TIME,  and  applications  to  modify  judgments and orders of
custody which modification may be granted only upon  a  showing  to  the
family  court  that  there has been a subsequent change of circumstances
and that modification is required.
  (b) In the event no such referral has been made and unless the supreme
court provides in the order or judgment awarding custody or [visitation]
PARENTING TIME in an action for divorce, separation or  annulment,  that
it  may  be  enforced  or modified only in the supreme court, the family
court may: (i) determine an application to enforce the order or judgment
awarding custody or [visitation] PARENTING TIME, or  (ii)  determine  an
application to modify the order or judgment awarding custody or [visita-
tion]  PARENTING  TIME  upon  a showing that there has been a subsequent
change of circumstances and modification is required.
  S 21. Section 511 of the family court act, as amended by  chapter  533
of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
  S  511.  Jurisdiction.  Except as otherwise provided, the family court
has exclusive original jurisdiction in proceedings to establish paterni-
ty and, in any such proceedings in which it makes a finding of  paterni-
ty,  to  order  support and to make orders of custody or of [visitation]
PARENTING TIME, as set forth in this article. On  its  own  motion,  the
court  may  at  any  time in the proceedings also direct the filing of a
neglect petition in accord with the provisions of article  ten  of  this
act.  In  accordance with the provisions of section one hundred eleven-b
of the domestic relations law, the surrogate's court has original juris-
diction concurrent with the family court to determine the issues  relat-
ing to the establishment of paternity.
  S  22. Section 549 of the family court act, as added by chapter 952 of
the laws of 1971, subdivision (a) as amended by chapter 85 of  the  laws
of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
  S 549. Order of [visitation] PARENTING TIME.  (a) If an order of fili-
ation  is  made or if a paternity agreement or compromise is approved by
the court, in the absence of an order  of  custody  or  of  [visitation]
PARENTING TIME entered by the supreme court the family court may make an
order  of  custody or of [visitation] PARENTING TIME, in accordance with
subdivision one of section two hundred forty of the  domestic  relations
law,  requiring  one  parent  to permit the other to [visit] BE WITH the
child or children at stated periods.
  (b) Any order of the family court under this section  shall  terminate
when  the  supreme  court  makes  an order of custody or of [visitation]
PARENTING TIME concerning the child  or  children,  unless  the  supreme
court continues the order of the family court.
  S  23.  Subdivision  (b)  of  section  551 of the family court act, as
amended by chapter 483 of the laws  of  1995,  is  amended  to  read  as
follows:

S. 7807                            11

  (b) to permit a parent PARENTING TIME, or a person entitled to visita-
tion  by  a court order or a separation agreement to [visit] BE WITH the
child at stated periods;
  S 24. Section 651 of the family court act, as amended by chapter 85 of
the  laws of 1996, subdivision (b) as amended by chapter 657 of the laws
of 2003, subdivision (d) as amended by chapter 41 of the laws  of  2010,
subdivision (e) as amended by chapter 295 of the laws of 2009 and subdi-
vision  (f)  as  added by chapter 473 of the laws of 2009, is amended to
read as follows:
  S 651. Jurisdiction over habeas corpus proceedings and  petitions  for
custody  [and],  visitation  AND  PARENTING  TIME  of  minors.  (a) When
referred from the supreme court or county court to the family court, the
family court has jurisdiction to determine, in accordance with  subdivi-
sion  one of section two hundred forty of the domestic relations law and
with the same powers possessed by the supreme court in addition  to  its
own  powers,  habeas corpus proceedings and proceedings brought by peti-
tion and order to show cause, for the determination of the custody [or],
visitation AND PARENTING TIME of minors.
  (b) When initiated in the family court, the family court has jurisdic-
tion to determine, in accordance with subdivision  one  of  section  two
hundred  forty  of  the  domestic relations law and with the same powers
possessed by the supreme court in addition to  its  own  powers,  habeas
corpus proceedings and proceedings brought by petition and order to show
cause, for the determination of the custody [or], visitation AND PARENT-
ING TIME of minors, including applications by a grandparent or grandpar-
ents for visitation or custody rights pursuant to section seventy-two or
two hundred forty of the domestic relations law.
  (c)  When  initiated  in the family court pursuant to a petition under
part eight of article ten of this act or section  three  hundred  fifty-
eight-a of the social services law, the family court has jurisdiction to
enforce  or  modify orders or judgments of the supreme court relating to
the [visitation] PARENTING TIME of minors in foster care,  notwithstand-
ing  any limitation contained in subdivision (b) of section four hundred
sixty-seven of this act.
  (d) With respect to applications by a grandparent or grandparents  for
visitation  or  custody  rights, made pursuant to section seventy-two or
two hundred forty of the domestic relations law, with a  child  remanded
or  placed  in  the  care  of  a person, official, agency or institution
pursuant to the provisions of article ten of this act, the applicant, in
such manner as the court shall prescribe, shall  serve  a  copy  of  the
application upon the social services official having care and custody of
such  child, and the child's attorney, who shall be afforded an opportu-
nity to be heard thereon.
  (e) 1. Permanent and initial temporary orders of custody  or  [visita-
tion] PARENTING TIME.  Prior to the issuance of any permanent or initial
temporary  order  of  custody  or [visitation] PARENTING TIME, the court
shall conduct a review of the decisions and reports listed in  paragraph
three of this subdivision.
  2.  Successive  temporary  orders of custody or [visitation] PARENTING
TIME.  Prior to the issuance of any successive temporary order of custo-
dy or [visitation] PARENTING TIME, the court shall conduct a  review  of
the decisions and reports listed in paragraph three of this subdivision,
unless  such a review has been conducted within ninety days prior to the
issuance of such order.
  3. Decisions and reports for review. The court shall conduct a  review
of the following:

S. 7807                            12

  (i) related decisions in court proceedings initiated pursuant to arti-
cle ten of this act, and all warrants issued under this act; and
  (ii)  reports  of  the  statewide  computerized  registry of orders of
protection established and maintained pursuant to  section  two  hundred
twenty-one-a  of  the  executive  law,  and  reports of the sex offender
registry established and maintained  pursuant  to  section  one  hundred
sixty-eight-b of the correction law.
  4.  Notifying  counsel and issuing orders. Upon consideration of deci-
sions pursuant to article ten of this  act,  and  registry  reports  and
notifying counsel involved in the proceeding, or in the event of a self-
represented  party, notifying such party of the results thereof, includ-
ing any court appointed attorney for children, the  court  may  issue  a
temporary,  successive  temporary  or final order of custody or [visita-
tion] PARENTING TIME.
  5. Temporary emergency order. Notwithstanding any other  provision  of
the  law, upon emergency situations, including computer malfunctions, to
serve the best interest of the child, the court may  issue  a  temporary
emergency  order for custody or [visitation] PARENTING TIME in the event
that it is not possible to timely review decisions and reports on regis-
tries as required pursuant to paragraph three of this subdivision.
  6. After issuing a temporary emergency order. After issuing  a  tempo-
rary  emergency  order  of  custody  or [visitation] PARENTING TIME, the
court shall conduct reviews of the decisions and reports  on  registries
as required pursuant to paragraph three of this subdivision within twen-
ty-four  hours of the issuance of such temporary emergency order. Should
such twenty-four hour period fall on a day when court is not in session,
then the required reviews shall take place the next day the court is  in
session.  Upon  reviewing  decisions  and reports the court shall notify
associated counsel, self-represented parties and attorneys for  children
pursuant  to  paragraph four of this subdivision and may issue temporary
or permanent custody or [visitation] PARENTING TIME orders.
  7. Feasibility study. The commissioner of the office of  children  and
family services, in conjunction with the office of court administration,
is  hereby  authorized and directed to examine, study, evaluate and make
recommendations concerning the feasibility of the utilization of comput-
ers in family courts which are connected to the statewide central regis-
ter of child abuse and maltreatment established and maintained  pursuant
to  section  four  hundred  twenty-two  of the social services law, as a
means of providing family  courts  with  information  regarding  parties
requesting  orders  of  custody  or  [visitation]  PARENTING  TIME. Such
commissioner shall make a preliminary report to  the  governor  and  the
legislature  of findings, conclusions and recommendations not later than
January thirty-first, two thousand nine, and a final report of findings,
conclusions and recommendations not later than June first, two  thousand
nine,  and  shall  submit with the reports such legislative proposals as
are deemed necessary to implement the commissioner's recommendations.
  (f) Military service by parent; effect on  child  custody  orders.  1.
During the period of time that a parent is activated, deployed or tempo-
rarily  assigned  to military service, such that the parent's ability to
continue as a joint caretaker or the primary caretaker of a minor  child
is  materially  affected  by  such  military  service, any orders issued
pursuant to this section, based on the fact that  the  parent  is  acti-
vated, deployed or temporarily assigned to military service, which would
materially  affect  or  change  a  previous  judgment or order regarding
custody of that parent's child or children as  such  judgment  or  order
existed  on  the date the parent was activated, deployed, or temporarily

S. 7807                            13

assigned to military service, shall be subject  to  review  pursuant  to
paragraph  three  of  this  subdivision.  Any relevant provisions of the
Service Member's  Civil  Relief  Act  shall  apply  to  all  proceedings
governed by this section.
  2.  During such period, the court may enter an order to modify custody
if there is clear and convincing evidence that the  modification  is  in
the  best  interests  of  the  child. An attorney for the child shall be
appointed in all cases where a modification is sought during such  mili-
tary  service.  Such  order shall be subject to review pursuant to para-
graph three of this subdivision. When entering an order pursuant to this
section, the court shall consider and provide for, if feasible and if in
the best interests of the child, contact between  the  military  service
member  and  his  or her child including, but not limited to, electronic
communication by e-mail, webcam, telephone, or  other  available  means.
During the period of the parent's leave from military service, the court
shall  consider  the  best  interests  of  the child when establishing a
parenting schedule, including visiting and  other  contact.    For  such
purpose,  a  "leave from military service" shall be a period of not more
than three months.
  3. Unless the parties have otherwise stipulated or agreed, if an order
is issued pursuant to this subdivision, the return of  the  parent  from
active  military  service,  deployment  or temporary assignment shall be
considered a substantial change in circumstances. Upon  the  request  of
either  parent,  the  court  shall determine on the basis of the child's
best interests whether the  custody  judgment  or  order  previously  in
effect should be modified.
  4.  This  subdivision shall not apply to assignments to permanent duty
stations or permanent changes of station.
  S 25. Section 651-a of the family court act, as amended by chapter  12
of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
  S  651-a.  Reports  of child abuse and maltreatment; admissibility. In
any proceeding brought pursuant to this section to determine the custody
[or], visitation OR PARENTING TIME of  minors,  a  report  made  to  the
statewide  central register of child abuse and maltreatment, pursuant to
title six of article six of the social services law, or a portion there-
of, which is otherwise admissible as a business record pursuant to  rule
forty-five  hundred  eighteen  of the civil practice law and rules shall
not be admissible in evidence,  notwithstanding  such  rule,  unless  an
investigation  of such report conducted pursuant to title six of article
six of the social services law has determined that there is some  credi-
ble  evidence  of the alleged abuse or maltreatment, that the subject of
the report has been notified that the report is indicated.  In addition,
if such report has been reviewed by the state commissioner  of  [social]
THE  OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY services or his designee and has been
determined to be unfounded, it shall not be admissible in  evidence.  If
such  report  has  been  so  reviewed and has been amended to delete any
finding, each such deleted finding shall not be admissible. If the state
commissioner of [social] THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY  services  or
his  designee  has  amended the report to add any new finding, each such
new finding, together with  any  portion  of  the  original  report  not
deleted  by [the] SUCH commissioner or his designee, shall be admissible
if it meets the other requirements of  this  section  and  is  otherwise
admissible  as  a business record. If such a report, or portion thereof,
is admissible in evidence but is uncorroborated, it shall not be  suffi-
cient  to  make a fact finding of abuse or maltreatment in such proceed-

S. 7807                            14

ing. Any other evidence tending  to  support  the  reliability  of  such
report shall be sufficient corroboration.
  S 26. Subdivisions (a) and (b) of section 652 of the family court act,
as  amended  by  chapter  40 of the laws of 1981, are amended to read as
follows:
  (a) When referred from the supreme court  to  the  family  court,  the
family  court  has  jurisdiction  to  determine,  with  the  same powers
possessed by the supreme court, applications to fix temporary or  perma-
nent  custody and applications to modify judgments and orders of custody
or [visitation] PARENTING TIME in actions and  proceedings  for  marital
separation,  divorce, annulment of marriage and dissolution of marriage.
Applications to modify judgments and orders of custody may be granted by
the family court under this section only upon the showing to the  family
court  that there has been a subsequent change of circumstances and that
modification is required.
  (b) In the event no such referral has been made and unless the supreme
court provides in the order or judgment awarding custody or [visitation]
PARENTING TIME in an action for divorce, separation or  annulment,  that
it  may  be  enforced  or modified only in the supreme court, the family
court may: (i) determine an application to enforce the order or judgment
awarding custody or [visitation] PARENTING TIME, or  (ii)  determine  an
application to modify the order or judgment awarding custody or [visita-
tion]  PARENTING  TIME  upon  a showing that there has been a subsequent
change of circumstances and modification is required.
  S 27. Subdivision (b) of section 656  of  the  family  court  act,  as
amended  by  chapter  483  of  the  laws  of 1995, is amended to read as
follows:
  (b) to permit a parent PARENTING TIME, or a person entitled to visita-
tion by a court order or a separation agreement, to [visit] BE WITH  the
child at stated periods;
  S  28.  Subdivision  (b)  of  section  759 of the family court act, as
amended by chapter 483 of the laws  of  1995,  is  amended  to  read  as
follows:
  (b) to permit a parent PARENTING TIME, or a person entitled to visita-
tion  by a court order or a separation agreement, to [visit] BE WITH the
child at stated periods;
  S 29. Subdivision (b) of section 842  of  the  family  court  act,  as
amended  by  chapter  483  of  the  laws  of 1995, is amended to read as
follows:
  (b) to permit a parent PARENTING TIME, or a person entitled to visita-
tion by a court order or a separation agreement, to [visit] BE WITH  the
child at stated periods;
  S 30. Section 119 of the family court act is amended by adding two new
subdivisions (d) and (e) to read as follows:
  (D)  "VISITATION"  REFERS  TO  TIME PERMITTED TO BE SPENT WITH A CHILD
PURSUANT TO A COURT ORDER UNDER THIS CHAPTER, THE FAMILY COURT ACT OR AN
ORDER ENFORCED UNDER ARTICLE FIVE-A OF THIS CHAPTER, BY A PERSON WHO  IS
NOT A PARENT OF THE CHILD. THIS SHALL INCLUDE GRANDPARENTS, SIBLINGS AND
STEP-PARENTS.
  (E)  "PARENTING  TIME"  REFERS TO THE PERIOD OF TIME THAT A PARENT MAY
SPEND WITH HIS OR HER CHILD PURSUANT TO A COURT ORDER UNDER  THIS  CHAP-
TER,  THE  FAMILY COURT ACT OR AN ORDER ENFORCED UNDER ARTICLE FIVE-A OF
THIS CHAPTER.
  S 31. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that the amend-
ments to subdivision (a) of section 439 of the family court act made  by
section  fifteen  of  this  act  shall  be subject to the expiration and

S. 7807                            15

reversion of such subdivision pursuant to section 246 of chapter  81  of
the  laws  of  1995,  as  amended, when upon such date the provisions of
section sixteen of this act shall take effect.