STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                         7425--A
            Cal. No. 578

                               2021-2022 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                     October 8, 2021
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sens.  KAPLAN,  BORRELLO, BOYLE, BROOKS, CLEARE, COMRIE,
          GAUGHRAN, GOUNARDES, HARCKHAM, KAMINSKY,  KRUEGER,  MATTERA,  PALUMBO,
          REICHLIN-MELNICK,  SEPULVEDA,  SKOUFIS, WEIK -- read twice and ordered
          printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules --
          recommitted to the Committee on Judiciary in  accordance  with  Senate
          Rule  6,  sec. 8 -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to
          first and second report, ordered  to  a  third  reading,  amended  and
          ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading

        AN  ACT to amend the domestic relations law and the family court act, in
          relation to establishing "Kyra's Law"

          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known as and may be cited as
     2  "Kyra's Law".
     3    § 2. Subparagraph 5 of paragraph (a-1) of subdivision 1 of section 240
     4  of  the domestic relations law, as amended by chapter 295 of the laws of
     5  2009, is amended to read as follows:
     6    (5)  Temporary  emergency  order.    (i)  Notwithstanding  any   other
     7  provision  of  the  law,  upon  the  application of a party to an action
     8  concerning custody of or a right to visitation with a child who  alleges
     9  that  the other party to the proceeding has committed, has threatened to
    10  commit, or is likely to commit an act of child abuse against such child,
    11  or has committed, has threatened to commit, or is likely  to  commit  an
    12  act  of  domestic  violence against the party making the allegation or a
    13  family or household member of either party, as such family or  household
    14  member  is  defined  in article eight of the family court act, the court
    15  shall hold a hearing  to  determine  whether  temporary  limitations  or
    16  conditions  on  the  custody  or  visitation  rights of the party who is
    17  alleged to have committed an act of child abuse against  the  child,  or
    18  committed an act of domestic violence against the party making the alle-
    19  gation  or  a family or household member of either party is necessary to

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD09163-03-2

        S. 7425--A                          2

     1  avoid significant risk to the child's life or safety.  The  court  shall
     2  conduct  an  assessment  of  the best interests of the child to identify
     3  significant risk to the child's life and safety, using a risk assessment
     4  tool  developed pursuant to clause (ii) of this subparagraph to evaluate
     5  factors which shall include, but shall not be limited to:
     6    (A) allegations of domestic violence, child abuse, child sexual  abuse
     7  or incidents involving harm, or risk of harm, to a child;
     8    (B)  prior  police reports or domestic violence incident reports docu-
     9  menting prior incidents involving child abuse or domestic  violence,  or
    10  whether either party has been charged with an act which would constitute
    11  disorderly conduct, unlawful dissemination or publication of an intimate
    12  image,  harassment in the first degree, harassment in the second degree,
    13  aggravated harassment in the second degree, sexual misconduct,  forcible
    14  touching,  sexual  abuse in the third degree, sexual abuse in the second
    15  degree as set forth in subdivision one of section 130.60  of  the  penal
    16  law, stalking in the first degree, stalking in the second degree, stalk-
    17  ing  in  the  third  degree,  stalking  in  the  fourth degree, criminal
    18  mischief, menacing in the second degree, menacing in the  third  degree,
    19  reckless endangerment, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circu-
    20  lation,  strangulation  in the second degree, strangulation in the first
    21  degree, assault in the second degree, assault in the  third  degree,  an
    22  attempted assault, identity theft in the first degree, identity theft in
    23  the  second degree, identity theft in the third degree, grand larceny in
    24  the fourth degree, grand larceny in the third degree,  coercion  in  the
    25  second  degree  or coercion in the third degree as set forth in subdivi-
    26  sions one, two and three of section 135.60  of  the  penal  law  between
    27  spouses or former spouses, or between party and child or between members
    28  of the same family or household, regardless of the disposition;
    29    (C)  whether  either party owns, possesses or has access to a firearm,
    30  rifle or shotgun;
    31    (D) decisions and  reports  on  registries  as  required  pursuant  to
    32  subparagraph three of this paragraph;
    33    (E) confinement of a party or child by the other party;
    34    (F) threats to harm or kill self or others, or threats to harm or kill
    35  emotional  support  or  comfort  animals  owned  or possessed by self or
    36  others, made by one party to the other party or child; and
    37    (G) one party's concern about future assaults from the other party.
    38    Except for good cause shown, the hearing for such determination  shall
    39  commence  within fourteen court days of the application for such hearing
    40  and shall not be adjourned. Parties shall be noticed of their  right  to
    41  the  assistance  of  counsel at the initiation of such hearing. When the
    42  parties first appear in  court,  the  judge  shall  advise  them  before
    43  proceeding  of  the right to be represented by counsel of his or her own
    44  choosing, of the right to have an adjournment to  confer  with  counsel,
    45  and  the  right to obtain counsel fees and expenses, pursuant to section
    46  two hundred thirty-seven of this article. During  such  hearing,  compe-
    47  tent,  material  and  relevant  evidence may be admitted, in addition to
    48  evidence that may include or consist of hearsay and documents or  photo-
    49  graphs  for  which a proper foundation cannot be laid. If a party waives
    50  his or her right to a hearing under this section, the court shall advise
    51  such party at that time that, notwithstanding such waiver,  an  applica-
    52  tion  under  this section may be made at any time during the pendency of
    53  the proceedings.
    54    (ii) The office for the prevention of domestic  violence,  in  coordi-
    55  nation  with the office of court administration and in consultation with
    56  the New York state coalition against domestic  violence,  the  New  York

        S. 7425--A                          3

     1  state  coalition  against  sexual assault, prevent child abuse New York,
     2  victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse or child sexu-
     3  al abuse, civil attorneys representing such victims in custody and visi-
     4  tation  proceedings,  and  researchers  and  academics with expertise in
     5  developing risk assessment tools shall develop a  risk  assessment  tool
     6  for  use by the court when assessing significant risk to child's life or
     7  safety for the purposes of issuing a temporary  emergency  order.  These
     8  entities  will  review and, when appropriate, update the risk assessment
     9  tool at least once every two years.
    10    (iii) If the court determines that limitations or  restrictions  of  a
    11  party's  custody,  visitation or contact with the child are necessary to
    12  avoid significant risk to the child's life or safety,  the  court  shall
    13  issue  a  temporary emergency order for custody or visitation stating as
    14  such. Such order shall set forth conditions  of  custody  or  visitation
    15  which  may be revised by the court upon application by either party only
    16  for good cause shown. Any order of the court under  this  section  shall
    17  terminate when the court makes a final order of custody or of visitation
    18  concerning the child or children, unless the supreme court continues the
    19  order to family court.
    20    (iv)  There shall be a rebuttable presumption that the court shall not
    21  award, in a temporary emergency order for custody or visitation, sole or
    22  joint custody or unsupervised visitation to a party who  jeopardizes  or
    23  may jeopardize the life or safety of the child.
    24    (v) The court shall state on the record, and in writing, its findings,
    25  the factors considered in rendering its decision and the reasons for the
    26  limitations  or  restrictions placed on a party's custody, visitation or
    27  contact with such child.
    28    (vi) All costs, including attorney and expert  fees  incurred  by  the
    29  non-offending  party  and  the  child, to prepare for and participate in
    30  such hearing shall be paid by the party who is found to  have  committed
    31  child  abuse or domestic violence, unless the offending party has insuf-
    32  ficient means to fund such expenses.
    33    (vii) If a party makes a good faith allegation based on  a  reasonable
    34  belief  supported  by  facts  that a child is the victim of child abuse,
    35  child neglect, or has been exposed to domestic  violence,  and  if  that
    36  party  acts  lawfully  and  in good faith in response to that reasonable
    37  belief to protect the child, seek treatment for the child or to  protect
    38  self,  then  that  party shall not be deprived of custody, visitation or
    39  contact with the child, or restricted in custody, visitation or contact,
    40  based solely on that belief or the reasonable  actions  taken  based  on
    41  that belief.
    42    (viii)  If  the  court  does  not  make  a finding that limitations or
    43  restrictions on a party's custody or  visitation  with  such  child  are
    44  necessary  to  avoid significant risk to the child's life or safety, the
    45  court shall hold an additional hearing whenever a party alleges  that  a
    46  temporary  order may be necessary to promote and protect the best inter-
    47  est of the child pending entry of a final order.
    48    (ix) With the exception of hearsay or  other  non-competent  evidence,
    49  the  court  may not refuse to consider, at further proceedings, evidence
    50  presented during a hearing for a temporary emergency order or additional
    51  evidence of domestic  violence  or  child  abuse  presented  in  further
    52  proceedings.  The presentation of any facts or evidence at a hearing for
    53  a temporary emergency order shall not preclude the presentation  of  any
    54  facts or evidence.
    55    (x)  Nothing contained in this subparagraph shall be deemed in any way
    56  to limit, restrict, expand or impair the rights of any party to file for

        S. 7425--A                          4

     1  a modification of a temporary emergency order as is  otherwise  provided
     2  by law.
     3    (xi)  Any party to a proceeding for a temporary emergency order pursu-
     4  ant to this section shall have a right  to  appeal  to  the  appropriate
     5  appellate  division.  An  appeal under this subdivision must be taken no
     6  later than five days after the service by a party or the child's  attor-
     7  ney  upon  the  appellant of any order from which the appeal is taken or
     8  five days from receipt of the order by the appellant in court, whichever
     9  is earliest.
    10    (xii) Notwithstanding any other provision of the law,  upon  emergency
    11  situations,  including computer malfunctions, to serve the best interest
    12  of the child, the court may issue a temporary emergency order for custo-
    13  dy or visitation in the event that it is not possible to  timely  review
    14  decisions and reports on registries as required pursuant to subparagraph
    15  three of this paragraph.
    16    §  3.  The  domestic  relations law is amended by adding a new section
    17  240-e to read as follows:
    18    § 240-e. Custody and visitation; life and safety of the child. 1.  For
    19  the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the follow-
    20  ing meanings:
    21    (a)  "Parental  alienation"  means  claims  that  a  child  has become
    22  estranged from a parent or legal guardian as a result  of  psychological
    23  manipulation by the other parent or legal guardian.
    24    (b)  "Victim  of  domestic  violence"  shall  have the same meaning as
    25  defined in section four hundred fifty-nine-a of the social services law.
    26    (c) "Friendly parent" means the propensity of a parent or legal guard-
    27  ian to actively support a child's  contact  and  relationship  with  the
    28  other  parent  or legal guardian, or the ability of such parent or legal
    29  guardian to  cooperate  in,  and  resolve  disputes,  regarding  matters
    30  affecting such child.
    31    2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a court
    32  making  a final determination of custody or visitation based on the best
    33  interests of a child pursuant to the provisions of  this  chapter  shall
    34  prioritize  and  promote  the  life and safety of such child when making
    35  such determinations. Promoting the life and  safety  of  a  child  shall
    36  include preventing direct physical and/or emotional harm to such child.
    37    3.  Prior  to  the issuance of a final order of custody or visitation,
    38  during its assessment of the best interests  of  the  child,  the  court
    39  shall  determine  the life and safety of the child who is the subject of
    40  such order by considering all relevant factors and  by  giving  weighted
    41  consideration  to those factors which affect the life and safety of such
    42  child, which shall include, but not be limited to:
    43    (a) whether either party is more likely to ensure the life and  safety
    44  of  the child and whether either party jeopardizes the life or safety of
    45  the child. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that custody or visi-
    46  tation shall not be awarded to a party who jeopardizes the life or safe-
    47  ty of the child;
    48    (b) the impact of disrupting continuity in the child's home,  environ-
    49  ment and established parenting contacts;
    50    (c)  any allegations of domestic violence, child abuse or child sexual
    51  abuse, or incidents involving harm, or risk of harm, to a child;
    52    (d) prior police reports or domestic violence incident  reports  docu-
    53  menting incidents involving child abuse or domestic violence, or whether
    54  either  party has been charged with an act which would constitute disor-
    55  derly conduct, unlawful dissemination  or  publication  of  an  intimate
    56  image,  harassment in the first degree, harassment in the second degree,

        S. 7425--A                          5

     1  aggravated harassment in the second degree, sexual misconduct,  forcible
     2  touching,  sexual  abuse in the third degree, sexual abuse in the second
     3  degree as set forth in subdivision one of section 130.60  of  the  penal
     4  law, stalking in the first degree, stalking in the second degree, stalk-
     5  ing  in  the  third  degree,  stalking  in  the  fourth degree, criminal
     6  mischief, menacing in the second degree, menacing in the  third  degree,
     7  reckless endangerment, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circu-
     8  lation,  strangulation  in the second degree, strangulation in the first
     9  degree, assault in the second degree, assault in the  third  degree,  an
    10  attempted assault, identity theft in the first degree, identity theft in
    11  the  second degree, identity theft in the third degree, grand larceny in
    12  the fourth degree, grand larceny in the third degree,  coercion  in  the
    13  second  degree  or coercion in the third degree as set forth in subdivi-
    14  sions one, two and three of section 135.60  of  the  penal  law  between
    15  spouses  or  former  spouses,  or  between  parent  and child or between
    16  members of the same family or household, regardless of the disposition;
    17    (e) whether either party owns, possesses or has access to  a  firearm,
    18  rifle or shotgun;
    19    (f)  whether  either party is better able and more likely to attend to
    20  the daily physical, emotional, developmental,  educational  and  special
    21  needs of the child; and
    22    (g) any previously made statements by the child about a party indicat-
    23  ing  they  are  fearful  of or resistant to having contact or visitation
    24  with such party.
    25    4. (a) The court shall not presume that a child's deficient  or  nega-
    26  tive  relationship with a party was caused by the other party, nor shall
    27  a party be given custody  for  the  purpose  of  improving  a  deficient
    28  relationship  between the child and such party or in an attempt to reme-
    29  diate a child's resistance to contact or visitation with a party.
    30    (b) Allegations regarding parental alienation shall not be  admissible
    31  in  any proceeding for custody or visitation and shall not be considered
    32  in assessing a child's best interests.
    33    (c) No psychological or  medical  theories  or  labels  related  to  a
    34  child's  resistance  to  contact  with  a  party  shall be admitted into
    35  evidence unless they are based on empirical proof  of  scientific  reli-
    36  ability  and  validity  and  generally  accepted  by  the scientific and
    37  professional community.
    38    (d) No reunification treatment or  any  similar  program  designed  to
    39  repair  a  party's  relationship with a child due to parental alienation
    40  shall be ordered by the court without scientifically valid and generally
    41  accepted proof of the effectiveness and therapeutic value of such treat-
    42  ment or program; nor shall a treatment or program be  ordered  which  is
    43  predicated on separating a child from their primary caregiver.
    44    (e)  In cases involving domestic violence or child abuse, whether such
    45  abuse has occurred or is occurring, a court shall not  consider  whether
    46  either parent is a friendly parent.
    47    5.  In  cases  where  the  court  has found a parent to be a victim of
    48  domestic violence and/or where child abuse has occurred or is occurring:
    49    (a) the court shall award joint legal custody only on consent  of  the
    50  parties or where it has been determined that the parties can effectively
    51  communicate,  cooperate  with  each  other,  and  make  joint  decisions
    52  concerning the child; provided, however, that where final orders are  on
    53  the  consent  of  the parties, in no event shall an order of joint legal
    54  custody be awarded when there is an existing or  prior  full  stay  away
    55  order  of  protection  against a party on behalf of another party to the

        S. 7425--A                          6

     1  proceeding or when there is an existing temporary  order  of  protection
     2  entered ex parte; and
     3    (b)  all  costs,  including  attorney and expert fees, incurred by the
     4  non-offending parent and the child, shall be paid by the parent  who  is
     5  found  to  have  committed  child abuse or domestic violence, unless the
     6  offending parent has insufficient means to pay such costs.
     7    6. (a) Before judges, referees, or other hearing officers preside over
     8  child custody proceedings in which one  or  more  parties  have  alleged
     9  domestic  violence  or  child abuse, they shall complete at least twenty
    10  hours of initial training for the handling of such cases. The office for
    11  prevention of domestic violence shall, within amounts  appropriated  for
    12  such  purpose,  contract  exclusively  with the New York state coalition
    13  against domestic violence, and other nonprofit  entities  with  whom  it
    14  subcontracts  with expertise in child abuse or gender-based violence, to
    15  develop such training. Such entity, or entities  in  partnership,  shall
    16  review  and  update  the  training  at  least once every two years.   In
    17  consultation with the office of court administration, such entities,  or
    18  entities  in partnership, shall be responsible for providing such train-
    19  ing to judges, referees,  and  other  hearing  officers  handling  child
    20  custody  proceedings.    Such training shall include, but not be limited
    21  to:
    22    (1) a review of relevant statutes and case law pertaining to  domestic
    23  violence and child abuse;
    24    (2)  the  dynamics  and  effects of domestic violence and child abuse,
    25  including but not limited to, emotional, financial, physical, technolog-
    26  ical and sexual abuse, and an understanding of the  barriers  and  fears
    27  associated  with  reporting  domestic  violence  and child abuse and why
    28  victims may not have documented evidence of abuse;
    29    (3) tactics commonly used by one party to induce fear in, or  dominate
    30  or  control  a partner or child, including verbal, emotional, psycholog-
    31  ical, and/or economic abuse; isolation; efforts to build  trust  and  an
    32  emotional  connection  with  a  child  to  support  future manipulation;
    33  exploitation;  abuse;  threats;  controlling  and  harassing  behaviors,
    34  including  monitoring  of  a  partner's  location and activities; use of
    35  oppressive behavior designed to deprive a partner of  their  rights  and
    36  liberties  and  establishing  a  regime  of  domination in the partner's
    37  personal life; litigation abuse; and demands for  custody  in  order  to
    38  pressure the partner to return or punish the partner for leaving;
    39    (4)  knowledge  of  trauma, particularly as it relates to sexual abuse
    40  and the risks posed to children and the long-term  dangers  and  impacts
    41  posed by the presence of adverse childhood experiences;
    42    (5) the increased risk of escalating violence that occurs during child
    43  custody  proceedings  and  methods for assessing a child's safety during
    44  custody and visitation  proceedings,  particularly  in  cases  involving
    45  domestic violence or child abuse;
    46    (6)  the  assessment  of  legality  or  signs  of lethal violence, and
    47  instruction on the use of a risk assessment tool to  assess  risk  to  a
    48  child's  life or safety for the purpose of issuing a temporary emergency
    49  order;
    50    (7) education regarding the harm courts may cause  children  in  child
    51  custody cases where domestic violence or child abuse is present by rely-
    52  ing  on  non-scientific  theories  such as parental alienation, parental
    53  alienation syndrome, the friendly parent concept, or any other theory or
    54  label that is not supported by scientific  research  and  not  generally
    55  accepted by the scientific community;

        S. 7425--A                          7

     1    (8) the investigation process once a law enforcement agency or a local
     2  department  of  social services has received a report of suspected child
     3  abuse, including the limitations of investigating reports  of  suspected
     4  child abuse; and
     5    (9)  appropriate experience and qualifications of child custody evalu-
     6  ators and mental health treatment providers.
     7    (b) Once initial training requirements have been met,  judges,  refer-
     8  ees, and other hearing officers presiding over child custody proceedings
     9  in  which  one  or  more parties have alleged domestic violence or child
    10  sexual abuse shall complete at least ten hours  of  training  every  two
    11  years in order to remain eligible to handle such proceedings.
    12    §  4.  Subdivision (a) of section 70 of the domestic relations law, as
    13  amended by chapter 457 of the laws  of  1988,  is  amended  to  read  as
    14  follows:
    15    (a)  (i)  Where  a  minor  child is residing within this state, either
    16  parent may apply to the supreme court for a writ  of  habeas  corpus  to
    17  have such minor child brought before such court; and on the return ther-
    18  eof,  the  court,  on due consideration, may award the natural guardian-
    19  ship, charge and custody of such child to either parent for  such  time,
    20  under  such  regulations  and restrictions, and with such provisions and
    21  directions, as the case may require, and  may  at  any  time  thereafter
    22  vacate  or modify such order. In all cases there shall be no prima facie
    23  right to the custody of the child in either parent, but the court  shall
    24  determine  solely  what  is for the best interest of the child, and what
    25  will best promote its welfare and happiness, and make award accordingly.
    26  Where either party to an action concerning custody  of  or  a  right  to
    27  visitation  with  a  child alleges that the other party has committed an
    28  act of child abuse against such child, or committed an act  of  domestic
    29  violence  against  the party making the allegation or a family or house-
    30  hold member of either party, as such family or household is  defined  in
    31  article  eight  of  the  family  court act, the court must first, before
    32  considering any other best interest factors, hold a hearing to determine
    33  whether temporary limitations or conditions on the custody or visitation
    34  rights of the party who is alleged to have committed  an  act  of  child
    35  abuse  against  the  child,  or  committed  an  act of domestic violence
    36  against the party making the allegation or a family or household  member
    37  of  either  party  is necessary to avoid significant risk to the child's
    38  life or safety, as described pursuant to subdivision five of section two
    39  hundred forty of this chapter.
    40    (ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of law  to  the  contrary,  a
    41  court  making  a  determination  that  limitations  or restrictions of a
    42  party's custody, visitation or contact with the child are  necessary  to
    43  avoid  significant  risk  to  the  child's  life or safety shall issue a
    44  temporary emergency order for custody or visitation stating as such.
    45    (iii) Notwithstanding any other provision  of  law  to  the  contrary,
    46  prior to the issuance of a temporary emergency order of custody or visi-
    47  tation,  the  court shall conduct an assessment of the best interests of
    48  the child to identify significant risk to the  life  or  safety  of  the
    49  child  who  is  the  subject  of  such  order by considering the factors
    50  described in section two hundred forty of this chapter.
    51    (iv) Notwithstanding any other provision of law  to  the  contrary,  a
    52  court making a final determination of custody or visitation based on the
    53  best  interests  of  a  child pursuant to the provisions of this chapter
    54  shall prioritize and promote the life and  safety  of  such  child  when
    55  making  such  determinations.  Promoting  the  safety  of  a child shall
    56  include preventing direct physical and/or emotional harm to such  child.

        S. 7425--A                          8

     1  Prior  to the issuance of a final order of custody or visitation, during
     2  its assessment of the best interests  of  the  child,  the  court  shall
     3  determine  the  safety  of the child who is the subject of such order by
     4  considering all relevant factors and by giving weighted consideration to
     5  those  factors  which affect the life and safety of such child, pursuant
     6  to subdivision three of section two hundred forty-d of this chapter.
     7    (v) In making a decision pursuant to paragraph (i)  of  this  subdivi-
     8  sion,  the  court  shall  be bound by the presumptions and admissibility
     9  described pursuant to section  two  hundred  forty-d  of  this  chapter.
    10  Further,  the  court  shall  not  take into consideration whether either
    11  party is married, was formerly married or has ever been married  to  the
    12  other party or anyone else.
    13    (vi)  In  cases  where  the  court has found a party to be a victim of
    14  domestic violence and/or where child abuse has occurred or is occurring,
    15  the court shall award joint legal custody only on consent of the parties
    16  or where it has been determined that the parties can effectively  commu-
    17  nicate,  cooperate  with each other, and make joint decisions concerning
    18  the child; provided, however, that where final orders are on the consent
    19  of the parties, in no event shall an order of  joint  legal  custody  be
    20  awarded  when  there  is  an  existing  or prior full stay away order of
    21  protection against a party on behalf of another party to the  proceeding
    22  or  when  there  is an existing temporary order of protection entered ex
    23  parte and all costs, including attorney and expert fees, incurred by the
    24  non-offending parent and the child, shall be paid by the parent  who  is
    25  found  to  have  committed  child abuse or domestic violence, unless the
    26  offending parent has insufficient means to pay such costs.
    27    (vii) Before judges, referees and other hearing officers preside  over
    28  child  custody  proceedings  in  which  one or more parties have alleged
    29  domestic violence or child abuse, they shall complete  initial  training
    30  for  the  handling  of  such  cases as described pursuant to section two
    31  hundred forty-d of this chapter. Once initial training requirements have
    32  been met, judges, referees and other  hearing  officers  shall  complete
    33  additional training every two years as described pursuant to section two
    34  hundred forty-d of this chapter.
    35    §  5.  The  family court act is amended by adding a new section 654 to
    36  read as follows:
    37    § 654. Temporary order of custody or of visitation. (a)  Notwithstand-
    38  ing any other provision of the law, upon the application of either party
    39  to an action concerning custody of or a right to visitation with a child
    40  who  alleges  that  the  other party has committed an act of child abuse
    41  against such child, or committed an act of domestic violence against the
    42  party making the allegation or a family or household  member  of  either
    43  party, as such family or household member is defined in article eight of
    44  the family court act, the court shall hold a hearing to determine wheth-
    45  er  temporary  limitations  or  conditions  on the custody or visitation
    46  rights of the party who is alleged to have committed  an  act  of  child
    47  abuse  against  the  child,  or  committed  an  act of domestic violence
    48  against the party making the allegation or a family or household  member
    49  of  either  party  is necessary to avoid significant risk to the child's
    50  life or safety, in accordance with subparagraph five of paragraph  (a-1)
    51  of  subdivision  one  of  section  two  hundred  forty  of  the domestic
    52  relations law. If the court determines that limitations or  restrictions
    53  of a party's custody, visitation or contact with the child are necessary
    54  to avoid significant risk to the child's life or safety, the court shall
    55  issue  a  temporary emergency order for custody or visitation stating as
    56  such, in accordance with clause (iii) of subparagraph five of  paragraph

        S. 7425--A                          9

     1  (a-1)  of  subdivision  one of section two hundred forty of the domestic
     2  relations law.
     3    (b)  Such  temporary order of custody or of visitation may be taken as
     4  of right to the appellate division of the  supreme  court.  Pending  the
     5  determination  of  such  appeal,  such  order  shall be stayed where the
     6  effect of such order would be to discharge  the  child,  if  the  family
     7  court or the court before which such appeal is pending finds that such a
     8  stay is necessary to avoid significant risk to the child's life or safe-
     9  ty.  A  preference  in  accordance  with rule five thousand five hundred
    10  twenty-one of the civil practice law and rules shall be afforded,  with-
    11  out  the  necessity  of a motion, for appeals under article three; parts
    12  one and two of article six; articles seven, ten, and ten-A of this  act;
    13  and  sections three hundred fifty-eight-a, three hundred eighty-three-c,
    14  three hundred eighty-four, and three hundred eighty-four-b of the social
    15  services law.  An appeal under this subdivision must be taken  no  later
    16  than five days after the service by a party or the child's attorney upon
    17  the  appellant  of  any  order from which the appeal is taken, five days
    18  from receipt of the order by the appellant in court.
    19    § 6. Subdivision a of section 1112 of the family court act, as amended
    20  by section 28 of part A of chapter 3 of the laws of 2005, is amended  to
    21  read as follows:
    22    a.  An  appeal  may be taken as of right from any order of disposition
    23  and, in the discretion of the appropriate appellate division,  from  any
    24  other  order  under  this  act.  An appeal from an intermediate or final
    25  order in a case involving abuse or neglect, the  decision  to  grant  or
    26  deny  a temporary emergency order, as determined pursuant to section six
    27  hundred fifty-four of this act, or a temporary emergency order issued to
    28  avoid significant risk to the child's  life  or  safety,  as  determined
    29  pursuant  to section six hundred fifty-four of this act, may be taken as
    30  of right to the appellate division of the supreme court.    Pending  the
    31  determination  of  such  appeal,  such  order  shall be stayed where the
    32  effect of such order would be to discharge  the  child,  if  the  family
    33  court or the court before which such appeal is pending finds that such a
    34  stay  is necessary to avoid imminent risk to the child's life or health.
    35  A preference in accordance with rule five thousand five hundred  twenty-
    36  one  of  the civil practice law and rules shall be afforded, without the
    37  necessity of a motion, for appeals under article three;  parts  one  and
    38  two  of  article  six;  articles  seven, ten, and ten-A of this act; and
    39  sections three  hundred  fifty-eight-a,  three  hundred  eighty-three-c,
    40  three hundred eighty-four, and three hundred eighty-four-b of the social
    41  services law.
    42    §  7.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
    43  have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
    44  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary  for  the  implementation  of
    45  this  act  on  its effective date are authorized to be made on or before
    46  such effective date.