S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6956
I N S E N A T E
March 9, 2016
___________
Introduced by Sen. SERINO -- (at request of the Office of Court Adminis-
tration) -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be
committed to the Committee on Children and Families
AN ACT to amend the family court act and the criminal procedure law, in
relation to notification of rights of victims of domestic violence in
criminal and family court proceedings
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 812 of the family court act, as
amended by chapter 224 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as
follows:
5. Notice. Every police officer, peace officer or district attorney
investigating a family offense under this article shall advise the
victim of the availability of a shelter or other services in the commu-
nity, and shall immediately give the victim written notice of the legal
rights and remedies available to a victim of a family offense under the
relevant provisions of THIS ACT, the criminal procedure law[, the family
court act] and the domestic relations law. Such notice shall be avail-
able, AT MINIMUM, in PLAIN English and Spanish and, if necessary, shall
be delivered orally and shall include but not be limited to SUBSTANTIAL-
LY the following statement:
["If you are the victim of domestic violence, you may request that the
officer assist in providing for your safety and that of your children,
including providing information on how to obtain a temporary order of
protection. You may also request that the officer assist you in obtain-
ing your essential personal effects and locating and taking you, or
assist in making arrangement to take you, and your children to a safe
place within such officer's jurisdiction, including but not limited to a
domestic violence program, a family member's or a friend's residence, or
a similar place of safety. When the officer's jurisdiction is more than
a single county, you may ask the officer to take you or make arrange-
ments to take you and your children to a place of safety in the county
where the incident occurred. If you or your children are in need of
medical treatment, you have the right to request that the officer assist
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14176-01-6
S. 6956 2
you in obtaining such medical treatment. You may request a copy of any
incident reports at no cost from the law enforcement agency. You have
the right to seek legal counsel of your own choosing and if you proceed
in family court and if it is determined that you cannot afford an attor-
ney, one must be appointed to represent you without cost to you.
You may ask the district attorney or a law enforcement officer to file
a criminal complaint. You also have the right to file a petition in the
family court when a family offense has been committed against you. You
have the right to have your petition and request for an order of
protection filed on the same day you appear in court, and such request
must be heard that same day or the next day court is in session. Either
court may issue an order of protection from conduct constituting a fami-
ly offense which could include, among other provisions, an order for the
respondent or defendant to stay away from you and your children. The
family court may also order the payment of temporary child support and
award temporary custody of your children. If the family court is not in
session, you may seek immediate assistance from the criminal court in
obtaining an order of protection.
The forms you need to obtain an order of protection are available from
the family court and the local criminal court (the addresses and tele-
phone numbers shall be listed). The resources available in this communi-
ty for information relating to domestic violence, treatment of injuries,
and places of safety and shelters can be accessed by calling the follow-
ing 800 numbers (the statewide English and Spanish language 800 numbers
shall be listed and space shall be provided for local domestic violence
hotline telephone numbers).
Filing a criminal complaint or a family court petition containing
allegations that are knowingly false is a crime."] "ARE YOU THE VICTIM
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? IF YOU NEED HELP NOW, CALL 911. THE POLICE WILL
COME RIGHT AWAY. THIS IS WHAT THE POLICE CAN DO:
THEY CAN PROTECT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN.
THEY CAN GET YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN TO A SAFE PLACE SUCH AS A FAMILY OR
FRIEND'S HOUSE OR A SHELTER IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
THEY CAN HELP YOU GET TO A HOSPITAL OR CLINIC FOR MEDICAL CARE.
THEY CAN HELP YOU GET YOUR PERSONAL BELONGINGS.
THEY CAN GET YOU A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT FOR FREE.
THEY MAY AND SOMETIMES MUST ARREST THE PERSON WHO HARMED YOU IF YOU
ARE THE VICTIM OF A CRIME.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN ABUSED OR THREATENED, THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN ASK FOR:
YOU CAN ASK THE COURT FOR AN ORDER OF PROTECTION.
YOU CAN ASK THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR THE POLICE OFFICER TO FILE A
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT.
YOU CAN FILE A PETITION IN FAMILY COURT AND ASK FOR AN ORDER OF
PROTECTION THERE.
IF YOU GO TO FAMILY COURT, YOU HAVE THESE RIGHTS:
TO HAVE YOUR FAMILY COURT PETITION FILED THE SAME DAY YOU GO TO COURT.
TO HAVE YOUR REQUEST HEARD IN COURT THE SAME DAY YOU FILE OR THE NEXT
DAY COURT IS OPEN.
YOU CAN ASK FOR AN ORDER OF PROTECTION IN CRIMINAL COURT OR FAMILY
COURT. (INSERT ADDRESSES AND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR COURTS). THAT ORDER
MAY INCLUDE THESE THINGS:
THAT THE OTHER PERSON STAY AWAY FROM YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN.
THAT YOU HAVE CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILDREN.
THAT THE OTHER PERSON PAY CHILD SUPPORT FOR NOW.
S. 6956 3
YOU CAN GO RIGHT NOW TO A CRIMINAL COURT TO ASK FOR AN ORDER OF
PROTECTION IF THE FAMILY COURT IS CLOSED BECAUSE IT IS NIGHTTIME, A
WEEKEND, OR A HOLIDAY.
YOU DO NOT NEED A LAWYER TO ASK FOR AN ORDER OF PROTECTION. BUT IT IS A
GOOD IDEA, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN. IF YOU CANNOT PAY FOR A
LAWYER, THE FAMILY COURT MAY APPOINT ONE FOR YOU.
YOU CAN GET THE FORMS YOU NEED TO ASK FOR AN ORDER OF PROTECTION AT
FAMILY COURT AND AT YOUR LOCAL CRIMINAL COURT. YOU CAN ALSO GET THEM
ONLINE: WWW.NYCOURTS.GOV/FORMS.
YOU CAN CALL A HOT-LINE FOR HELP (INSERT HOT-LINE NUMBERS).
IT IS A CRIME TO FILE A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT OR A FAMILY COURT PETITION
WHICH SAYS THINGS THAT YOU KNOW ARE FALSE."
The division of criminal justice services in consultation with the
state office for the prevention of domestic violence shall prepare the
form of such written notice consistent with the provisions of this
section and distribute copies thereof to the appropriate law enforcement
officials pursuant to subdivision nine of section eight hundred forty-
one of the executive law. Additionally, copies of such notice shall be
provided to the chief administrator of the courts to be distributed to
victims of family offenses through the family court at such time as such
persons first come before the court and to the state department of
health for distribution to all hospitals defined under article twenty-
eight of the public health law. No cause of action for damages shall
arise in favor of any person by reason of any failure to comply with the
provisions of this subdivision except upon a showing of gross negligence
or willful misconduct.
S 2. Subdivision 6 of section 530.11 of the criminal procedure law, as
amended by chapter 224 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as
follows:
6. Notice. Every police officer, peace officer or district attorney
investigating a family offense under this article shall advise the
victim of the availability of a shelter or other services in the commu-
nity, and shall immediately give the victim written notice of the legal
rights and remedies available to a victim of a family offense under the
relevant provisions of [the criminal procedure law] THIS CHAPTER, the
family court act and the domestic relations law. Such notice shall be
prepared, AT MINIMUM, in PLAIN ENGLISH AND Spanish [and English] and if
necessary, shall be delivered orally, and shall include but not be
limited to SUBSTANTIALLY the following statement:
["If you are the victim of domestic violence, you may request that the
officer assist in providing for your safety and that of your children,
including providing information on how to obtain a temporary order of
protection. You may also request that the officer assist you in obtain-
ing your essential personal effects and locating and taking you, or
assist in making arrangements to take you, and your children to a safe
place within such officer's jurisdiction, including but not limited to a
domestic violence program, a family member's or a friend's residence, or
a similar place of safety. When the officer's jurisdiction is more than
a single county, you may ask the officer to take you or make arrange-
ments to take you and your children to a place of safety in the county
where the incident occurred. If you or your children are in need of
medical treatment, you have the right to request that the officer assist
you in obtaining such medical treatment. You may request a copy of any
incident reports at no cost from the law enforcement agency. You have
the right to seek legal counsel of your own choosing and if you proceed
S. 6956 4
in family court and if it is determined that you cannot afford an attor-
ney, one must be appointed to represent you without cost to you.
You may ask the district attorney or a law enforcement officer to file
a criminal complaint. You also have the right to file a petition in the
family court when a family offense has been committed against you. You
have the right to have your petition and request for an order of
protection filed on the same day you appear in court, and such request
must be heard that same day or the next day court is in session. Either
court may issue an order of protection from conduct constituting a fami-
ly offense which could include, among other provisions, an order for the
respondent or defendant to stay away from you and your children. The
family court may also order the payment of temporary child support and
award temporary custody of your children. If the family court is not in
session, you may seek immediate assistance from the criminal court in
obtaining an order of protection.
The forms you need to obtain an order of protection are available from
the family court and the local criminal court (the addresses and tele-
phone numbers shall be listed). The resources available in this communi-
ty for information relating to domestic violence, treatment of injuries,
and places of safety and shelters can be accessed by calling the follow-
ing 800 numbers (the statewide English and Spanish language 800 numbers
shall be listed and space shall be provided for local domestic violence
hotline telephone numbers).
Filing a criminal complaint or a family court petition containing
allegations that are knowingly false is a crime."] "ARE YOU THE VICTIM
OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? IF YOU NEED HELP NOW, CALL 911. THE POLICE WILL
COME RIGHT AWAY. THIS IS WHAT THE POLICE CAN DO:
THEY CAN PROTECT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN.
THEY CAN GET YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN TO A SAFE PLACE SUCH AS A FAMILY OR
FRIEND'S HOUSE OR A SHELTER IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
THEY CAN HELP YOU GET TO A HOSPITAL OR CLINIC FOR MEDICAL CARE.
THEY CAN HELP YOU GET YOUR PERSONAL BELONGINGS.
THEY CAN GET YOU A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT FOR FREE.
THEY MAY AND SOMETIMES MUST ARREST THE PERSON WHO HARMED YOU IF YOU
ARE THE VICTIM OF A CRIME.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN ABUSED OR THREATENED, THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN ASK FOR:
YOU CAN ASK THE COURT FOR AN ORDER OF PROTECTION.
YOU CAN ASK THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR THE POLICE OFFICER TO FILE A
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT.
YOU CAN FILE A PETITION IN FAMILY COURT AND ASK FOR AN ORDER OF
PROTECTION THERE.
IF YOU GO TO FAMILY COURT, YOU HAVE THESE RIGHTS:
TO HAVE YOUR FAMILY COURT PETITION FILED THE SAME DAY YOU GO TO COURT.
TO HAVE YOUR REQUEST HEARD IN COURT THE SAME DAY YOU FILE OR THE NEXT
DAY COURT IS OPEN.
YOU CAN ASK FOR AN ORDER OF PROTECTION IN CRIMINAL COURT OR FAMILY
COURT. (INSERT ADDRESSES AND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR COURTS). THAT ORDER
MAY INCLUDE THESE THINGS:
THAT THE OTHER PERSON STAY AWAY FROM YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN.
THAT YOU HAVE CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILDREN.
THAT THE OTHER PERSON PAY CHILD SUPPORT FOR NOW.
YOU CAN GO RIGHT NOW TO A CRIMINAL COURT TO ASK FOR AN ORDER OF
PROTECTION IF THE FAMILY COURT IS CLOSED BECAUSE IT IS NIGHTTIME, A
WEEKEND, OR A HOLIDAY.
S. 6956 5
YOU DO NOT NEED A LAWYER TO ASK FOR AN ORDER OF PROTECTION. BUT IT IS A
GOOD IDEA, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN. IF YOU CANNOT PAY FOR A
LAWYER, THE FAMILY COURT MAY APPOINT ONE FOR YOU.
YOU CAN GET THE FORMS YOU NEED TO ASK FOR AN ORDER OF PROTECTION AT
FAMILY COURT AND AT YOUR LOCAL CRIMINAL COURT. YOU CAN ALSO GET THEM
ONLINE: WWW.NYCOURTS.GOV/FORMS.
YOU CAN CALL A HOT-LINE FOR HELP (INSERT HOT-LINE NUMBERS).
IT IS A CRIME TO FILE A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT OR A FAMILY COURT PETITION
WHICH SAYS THINGS THAT YOU KNOW ARE FALSE."
The division of criminal justice services in consultation with the
state office for the prevention of domestic violence shall prepare the
form of such written notice consistent with provisions of this section
and distribute copies thereof to the appropriate law enforcement offi-
cials pursuant to subdivision nine of section eight hundred forty-one of
the executive law.
Additionally, copies of such notice shall be provided to the chief
administrator of the courts to be distributed to victims of family
offenses through the criminal court at such time as such persons first
come before the court and to the state department of health for distrib-
ution to all hospitals defined under article twenty-eight of the public
health law. No cause of action for damages shall arise in favor of any
person by reason of any failure to comply with the provisions of this
subdivision except upon a showing of gross negligence or willful miscon-
duct.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law.