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

                                  3297

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            February 4, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  RANZENHOFER -- read twice and ordered printed, and
  when printed to be committed to the Committee on Children and Families

AN ACT to amend the domestic relations  law,  in  relation  to  determi-
  nations of child custody in matrimonial actions

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

  Section 1. Section 70 of the domestic  relations  law  is  amended  by
adding a new subdivision (c) to read as follows:
  (C)  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE
COURT SHALL NOT CONSIDER THE DEPLOYMENT OF A PARENT IN ACTIVE SERVICE OF
THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OR OF THE ORGANIZED MILITIA OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK AS A DETRIMENTAL FACTOR TO THE AWARDING OF CUSTODY  OF
A  CHILD WHERE A SUITABLE CHILD CARE PLAN FOR THE PERIOD OF SUCH DEPLOY-
MENT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE COURT BY THE PETITIONING PARENT.
  S 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section  240  of  the  domestic
relations law, as amended by chapter 476 of the laws of 2009, is amended
and a new subdivision 1-d is added 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 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]  SUBDIVISIONS  one-c  AND  ONE-D  of  this
section. Where either party to an action  concerning  custody  of  or  a
right  to  visitation  with  a  child  alleges  in  a  sworn petition or
complaint or sworn answer, cross-petition, counterclaim or  other  sworn

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD02041-01-5
              

S. 3297                             2

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 or contact with
the child, or restricted in custody, visitation 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 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  determi-
nation.  An  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 direc-
tion 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 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 applicable provisions of law
against any person having care and custody, or temporary care and custo-
dy, of the child. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any  writ-
ten  application or motion to the court for the establishment, modifica-
tion 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  statement  that  the  applicant
knows  of  the  availability of such services, has declined them at this
time and where support enforcement  services  pursuant  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

S. 3297                             3

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
instruments necessary to assure timely payment of any  health  insurance
claims for such child.
  1-D.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE
COURT SHALL NOT CONSIDER THE DEPLOYMENT OF A PARENT IN ACTIVE SERVICE OF
THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OR OF THE ORGANIZED MILITIA OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK AS A DETRIMENTAL FACTOR TO THE AWARDING OF CUSTODY  OF
A CHILD TO A PETITIONING PARENT WHERE A SUITABLE CHILD CARE PLAN FOR THE
PERIOD  OF  SUCH  DEPLOYMENT  HAS  BEEN  PRESENTED  TO THE COURT BY SUCH
PARENT.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.