S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9223
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 2, 2014
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CLARK -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the domestic relations law, in relation to enacting the
"Blind Person's Right to Parent Act"
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Blind
Person's Right to Parent Act".
S 2. The domestic relations law is amended by adding a new article 14
to read as follows:
ARTICLE 14
BLIND PERSON'S RIGHT TO PARENT
SECTION 260. DEFINITIONS.
261. CONSIDERATION OF BLINDNESS DURING GUARDIANSHIP, CUSTODY OR
VISITATION PROCEEDINGS.
S 260. DEFINITIONS. IN THIS ARTICLE, THE TERM "BLIND" OR "BLINDNESS"
MEANS:
(A) VISION THAT IS 20/200 OR LESS IN THE BEST CORRECTED EYE; OR
(B) VISION THAT SUBTENDS AN ANGLE OF NOT GREATER THAN 20 DEGREES IN
THE BEST CORRECTED EYE.
S 261. CONSIDERATION OF BLINDNESS DURING GUARDIANSHIP, CUSTODY OR
VISITATION PROCEEDINGS. IN MAKING A DISPOSITION ON GUARDIANSHIP, CUSTODY
OR VISITATION PROCEEDINGS WHERE A PARTY IS BLIND, THE COURT MAY NOT DENY
THAT PARTY SOLELY BECAUSE THAT PARTY IS BLIND. THE BLINDNESS OF THE
PARTY IS RELEVANT ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT THE COURT FINDS, BASED ON
EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD, THAT THE BLINDNESS AFFECTS THE BEST INTEREST OF
THE CHILD.
S 3. Within 90 days of the passage of this act, the department of
social welfare shall adopt regulations that prohibit a local district
from seeking the custody or guardianship of a child for placement in
foster care solely because the child's parent or legal guardian is
blind.
S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14522-01-4