S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    726
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 8, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ROSENTHAL  --  read once and referred to the
   Committee on Children and Families
 
 AN ACT to amend the family court act,  in  relation  to  requiring  that
   attorneys be available to parents of minors involved in a family court
   proceeding; and to amend the social services law and the New York city
   charter,  in relation to requiring that all interactions with children
   by child protective services and  the  administration  for  children's
   services are videotaped
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Article 2 of the family court act is amended  by  adding  a
 new part 7 to read as follows:
                                  PART 7
                           ATTORNEYS FOR PARENTS
 SECTION 270. ATTORNEYS FOR PARENTS.
   § 270. ATTORNEYS FOR PARENTS. PARENTS OF MINORS WHO ARE THE SUBJECT OF
 FAMILY  COURT  PROCEEDINGS  OR APPEALS IN PROCEEDINGS ORIGINATING IN THE
 FAMILY COURT SHOULD BE REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING  OR,
 IF  A PARENT OR PARENTS SO CHOOSE NOT TO HIRE COUNSEL ON THEIR OWN, THEN
 COUNSEL SHALL BE ASSIGNED TO THEM. SUCH REPRESENTATION OF COUNSEL  SHALL
 BE  AVAILABLE  OR  ASSIGNED  TO  PARENTS THROUGHOUT PROCEEDINGS IN THEIR
 ENTIRETY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, BEFORE A PETITION IS FILED,  AT
 ARRAIGNMENT PROCEEDINGS, AND THROUGHOUT THE COURTHOUSE INTAKE PROCESS.
   §  2. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 422-d
 to read as follows:
   § 422-D. VIDEO MONITORING OF INTERACTION WITH CHILDREN. THE OFFICE  OF
 CHILDREN  AND FAMILY SERVICES SHALL ENSURE THAT ALL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN
 MEMBERS OF CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND THE CHILDREN THEY ARE  ASSIGNED
 TO  INVESTIGATE  OR  WORK  WITH  SHALL BE RECORDED ON VIDEO, IN ORDER TO
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD02292-01-5
              

 A. 726                              2
 
 PROMOTE  ACCOUNTABILITY  AND  TRANSPARENCY  IN  THE  INVESTIGATIONS  AND
 PROCEEDINGS CONDUCTED BY CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
   §  3. The New York city charter is amended by adding a new section 619
 to read as follows:
   § 619. VIDEO MONITORING OF INTERACTION WITH CHILDREN. THE COMMISSIONER
 SHALL ENSURE ALL INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION  FOR
 CHILDREN'S SERVICES AND THE CHILDREN THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO INVESTIGATE OR
 WORK WITH SHALL BE RECORDED ON VIDEO, IN ORDER TO PROMOTE ACCOUNTABILITY
 AND  TRANSPARENCY IN THE INVESTIGATIONS AND PROCEEDINGS CONDUCTED BY THE
 ADMINISTRATION.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.