S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1785
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 20, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. D. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the family court act, in relation to the hours of opera-
tion for family courts; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision (a) of section 161 of the family court act is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The days and hours the court is open shall be as provided by rule
of court; PROVIDED, THAT THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OF THE COURTS SHALL
REQUIRE THAT THE COURT REMAIN OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT AT LEAST ONE NIGHT A
WEEK IN AT LEAST TWO COUNTIES IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, EFFECTIVE JANUARY
FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR, AND IN AT LEAST THREE COUNTIES IN SUCH
CITY, EFFECTIVE JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE. WHEN A COURT
REMAINS OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON A DAY AS PROVIDED HEREIN, THE CHIEF
ADMINISTRATOR SHALL DETERMINE THE CLASSES OF CASES THAT MAY BE HEARD IN
SUCH COURT AFTER FIVE O'CLOCK P.M. AND SUCH CLASSES OF CASES MAY BE
HEARD BY THE COURT UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON SUCH DAY; EXCEPT THAT, WHERE SUCH
CLASSES INCLUDE CASES IN WHICH PETITIONS ARE FILED PURSUANT TO ARTICLES
THREE, SIX, EIGHT, AND TEN OF THIS ACT, THE CLERK OF SUCH COURT SHALL
ACCEPT SUCH PETITIONS UNTIL ELEVEN O'CLOCK P.M. ON SUCH DAY.
§ 2. Not later than December 1, 2025, the chief administrator of the
courts shall submit to the legislature, the governor, and the chief
judge of the state a report evaluating the use of family court in the
counties wherein the chief administrator, pursuant to subdivision (a) of
section 161 of the family court act, as amended pursuant to section one
of this act, has required that the court remain open until midnight.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire April 1,
2026 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed
repealed.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05182-01-3