Senate Bill S3170

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Enacts the family court adjusted service time (FAST) act

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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2025-S3170 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Senate Judiciary
Law Section:
Family Court Act
Laws Affected:
Amd §161, Fam Ct Act
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2019-2020: S8060
2021-2022: S3683
2023-2024: S2355

2025-S3170 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Enacts the "family court adjusted service time (FAST) act"; requires family courts in New York City to remain open until midnight on at least one weekday each week in at least two counties effective January 1, 2026, and in at least three counties, effective January 1, 2027.

2025-S3170 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S3170 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   3170
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 24, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  FELDER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
 
 AN ACT to amend the family court act, in relation to enacting the "fami-
   ly court adjusted service time (FAST)  act";  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. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
 the "family court adjusted service time (FAST) act".
   § 2. 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-SIX, AND IN AT LEAST THREE COUNTIES  IN  SUCH
 CITY,  EFFECTIVE  JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SEVEN. 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.
   § 3. Not later than December 1, 2027, 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 in section two of this
 act, has required that the court remain open until midnight.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire April  1,
 2028  when  upon  such  date  the provisions of this act shall be deemed
 repealed.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

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