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A08382 Summary:

BILL NOA08382
 
SAME ASNo Same As
 
SPONSORPaulin
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Rpld §562, amd Fam Ct Act, generally; amd R4518, CPLR; amd §§75-a, 111-b, 240, 244-b, 244-c & 244-d, Dom Rel L; amd §256, Exec L; amd §90, Judy L; amd Soc Serv L, generally; amd §3-503, Gen Ob L; amd §510, V & T L; amd §119, ABC L; amd §6509-c, Ed L
 
Replaces the terms father, mother, and filiation to gender neutral language.
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A08382 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          8382
 
                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                      May 13, 2025
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN -- read once and referred to the Committee
          on Governmental Operations
 
        AN  ACT to amend the family court act, the civil practice law and rules,
          the domestic relations law, the executive law, the judiciary law,  the
          social  services  law,  the  general  obligations law, the vehicle and
          traffic law, the alcoholic beverage control  law,  and  the  education
          law,  in  relation  to substituting parentage for paternity and filia-
          tion; and to repeal certain provisions of the family court act  relat-
          ing thereto
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. Paragraph (iii) of subdivision (a) of section  115  of  the
     2  family  court  act,  as  amended  by chapter 222 of the laws of 1994, is
     3  amended to read as follows:
     4    (iii) proceedings to  determine  [paternity]  parentage  and  for  the
     5  support  of  children born [out-of-wedlock] out of wedlock, as set forth
     6  in [article] articles five and five-C of this act;
     7    § 2. Subdivision (b) of section 154 of the family court act, as  added
     8  by chapter 214 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:
     9    (b)  In  a  proceeding to establish [paternity] parentage or to estab-
    10  lish, modify or enforce support, the court may send process without  the
    11  state in the same manner and with the same effect as process sent within
    12  the  state  in  the  exercise  of  personal jurisdiction over any person
    13  subject to the jurisdiction of the court under section three hundred one
    14  or three hundred two of the  civil  practice  law  and  rules  or  under
    15  section  580-201  of  article  five-B  of  [the  family court] this act,
    16  notwithstanding that such person is not a resident or domiciliary of the
    17  state.
    18    § 3. Paragraph (viii) of subdivision (a) of section 262 of the  family
    19  court  act,  as  added by chapter 456 of the laws of 1978, is amended to
    20  read as follows:
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD11920-01-5

        A. 8382                             2
 
     1    (viii) the respondent in any proceeding under [article] articles  five
     2  and  five-C  of this act in relation to the establishment of [paternity]
     3  parentage.
     4    §  4.  Subdivision  (a)  of  section  418  of the family court act, as
     5  amended by chapter 214 of the laws  of  1998,  is  amended  to  read  as
     6  follows:
     7    (a)  The court, on its own motion or motion of any party, when [pater-
     8  nity] parentage is contested under this article, shall order the  [moth-
     9  er,]  parties and the child [and the alleged father] to submit to one or
    10  more genetic marker or DNA marker tests of a type generally acknowledged
    11  as reliable by an accreditation body designated by the secretary of  the
    12  federal department of health and human services and performed by a labo-
    13  ratory approved by such an accreditation body and by the commissioner of
    14  health  or  by a duly qualified physician to aid in the determination of
    15  whether the alleged [father] parent is or is not the [father] parent  of
    16  the child. No such test shall be ordered, however, where the acknowledg-
    17  ment  was signed by the intended parent of a child born through assisted
    18  reproduction pursuant to subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (b) of  subdivi-
    19  sion one of section forty-one hundred thirty-five-b of the public health
    20  law,  or  upon a written finding by the court that it is not in the best
    21  interests of the child on the basis of res judicata, equitable  estoppel
    22  or  the  presumption  of legitimacy of a child born to a married [woman]
    23  couple. The record or report of the results of any such  genetic  marker
    24  or  DNA  test shall be received in evidence, pursuant to subdivision (e)
    25  of rule forty-five hundred eighteen of the civil practice law and  rules
    26  where  no  timely  objection in writing has been made thereto. Any order
    27  pursuant to this section shall state in plain language that the  results
    28  of  such  test  shall be admitted into evidence, pursuant to rule forty-
    29  five hundred eighteen of the civil practice law and rules absent  timely
    30  objections thereto and that if such timely objections are not made, they
    31  shall  be  deemed  waived  and  shall  not be heard by the court. If the
    32  record or report of results of any such genetic marker or  DNA  test  or
    33  tests indicate at least a ninety-five percent probability of [paternity]
    34  parentage, the admission of such record or report shall create a rebutt-
    35  able  presumption  of  [paternity]  parentage, and, if unrebutted, shall
    36  establish the [paternity] parentage of and liability for the support  of
    37  a child pursuant to this article and article five of this act.
    38    §  5. Subdivisions (a), (b) and (c) of section 439 of the family court
    39  act, subdivision (a) as amended by section 21 of part L of chapter 56 of
    40  the laws of 2020, subdivision (b) as amended by chapter 568 of the  laws
    41  of  2024  and  subdivision  (c) as amended by chapter 576 of the laws of
    42  2005, are amended to read as follows:
    43    (a) The chief administrator of the courts shall provide, in accordance
    44  with subdivision (f) of this section, for the appointment  of  a  suffi-
    45  cient  number  of  support  magistrates  to  hear  and determine support
    46  proceedings. Except as hereinafter provided, support  magistrates  shall
    47  be  empowered  to hear, determine and grant any relief within the powers
    48  of the court in  any  proceeding  under  this  article,  articles  five,
    49  five-A,  five-B  and five-C and sections two hundred thirty-four and two
    50  hundred thirty-five of this  act,  and  objections  raised  pursuant  to
    51  section  five  thousand  two hundred forty-one of the civil practice law
    52  and rules. Support magistrates shall not be empowered to hear, determine
    53  and grant any relief with respect to issues specified  in  section  four
    54  hundred  fifty-five  of  this  article,  issues  of  contested parentage
    55  involving claims of equitable estoppel,  custody,  visitation  including
    56  visitation  as  a  defense, determinations of parentage made pursuant to

        A. 8382                             3
 
     1  section 581-407 of this act,  and  orders  of  protection  or  exclusive
     2  possession  of  the home, which shall be referred to a judge as provided
     3  in subdivision (b) or (c) of this section. Where an order of [filiation]
     4  parentage is issued by a judge in a [paternity] parentage proceeding and
     5  child  support is in issue, the judge, or support magistrate upon refer-
     6  ral from the judge, shall be authorized to immediately make a  temporary
     7  or  final  order  of  support, as applicable. A support magistrate shall
     8  have the authority to hear and decide motions and  issue  summonses  and
     9  subpoenas to produce persons pursuant to section one hundred fifty-three
    10  of  this act, hear and decide proceedings and issue any order authorized
    11  by subdivision (g) of section five thousand two hundred forty-one of the
    12  civil practice law and  rules,  issue  subpoenas  to  produce  prisoners
    13  pursuant to section two thousand three hundred two of the civil practice
    14  law  and  rules  and  make  a  determination  that any person before the
    15  support magistrate is in violation of an order of the court  as  author-
    16  ized  by  section one hundred fifty-six of this act subject to confirma-
    17  tion by a judge of the court who shall impose any  punishment  for  such
    18  violation  as  provided  by law. A determination by a support magistrate
    19  that a person is in willful violation  of  an  order  under  subdivision
    20  three of section four hundred fifty-four of this article and that recom-
    21  mends  commitment  shall  be  transmitted to the parties, accompanied by
    22  findings of fact, but the determination shall have no force  and  effect
    23  until confirmed by a judge of the court.
    24    (b)  In  any  proceeding  to  establish [paternity] parentage which is
    25  heard by a support magistrate, the support magistrate shall  advise  the
    26  [mother  and  putative father] parties of the right to be represented by
    27  counsel and [shall advise the mother and putative father] of their right
    28  to blood grouping or other genetic marker or  DNA  tests  in  accordance
    29  with section five hundred thirty-two of this act. The support magistrate
    30  shall order that such tests be conducted in accordance with section five
    31  hundred  thirty-two  of  this  act.  The  support  magistrate  shall  be
    32  empowered to hear and determine all matters related  to  the  proceeding
    33  including  the  making  of an order of [filiation] parentage pursuant to
    34  section five hundred forty-two of this act and an application to  change
    35  the name of the child pursuant to section sixty of the civil rights law,
    36  provided,  however, that where the respondent denies [paternity] parent-
    37  age and [paternity] parentage is contested on the grounds  of  equitable
    38  estoppel, the support magistrate shall not be empowered to determine the
    39  issue  of  [paternity] parentage, but shall transfer the proceeding to a
    40  judge of the court for a  determination  of  the  issue  of  [paternity]
    41  parentage.  Where an order of [filiation] parentage is issued by a judge
    42  in a [paternity] parentage proceeding and child support is in issue, the
    43  judge,  or  support  magistrate  upon  referral from the judge, shall be
    44  authorized to immediately make a temporary or final order of support, as
    45  applicable.  Whenever an order of [filiation] parentage  is  made  by  a
    46  support  magistrate,  the  support magistrate also shall make a final or
    47  temporary order of support.
    48    (c) The support magistrate, in any proceeding in which  issues  speci-
    49  fied in section four hundred fifty-five of this [act] article, or issues
    50  of  custody,  visitation,  including  visitation as a defense, orders of
    51  protection or exclusive possession of the home are present or  in  which
    52  [paternity] parentage is contested on the grounds of equitable estoppel,
    53  shall  make  a  temporary order of support and refer the proceeding to a
    54  judge. Upon determination of such issue by a judge, the judge may make a
    55  final determination of the issue of support, or  immediately  refer  the
    56  proceeding  to  a  support  magistrate for further proceedings regarding

        A. 8382                             4
 
     1  child support or other matters  within  the  authority  of  the  support
     2  magistrate.
     3    §  5-a.  Subdivision  (a)  of  section 439 of the family court act, as
     4  amended by section 2 of chapter 468 of the laws of 2012, is  amended  to
     5  read as follows:
     6    (a) The chief administrator of the courts shall provide, in accordance
     7  with  subdivision  (f)  of this section, for the appointment of a suffi-
     8  cient number of  support  magistrates  to  hear  and  determine  support
     9  proceedings.  Except  as hereinafter provided, support magistrates shall
    10  be empowered to hear, determine and grant any relief within  the  powers
    11  of  the  court  in  any  proceeding  under  this article, articles five,
    12  five-A, and five-B and sections two hundred thirty-four and two  hundred
    13  thirty-five  of this act, and objections raised pursuant to section five
    14  thousand two hundred forty-one of the  civil  practice  law  and  rules.
    15  Support  magistrates shall not be empowered to hear, determine and grant
    16  any relief with respect to issues  specified  in  section  four  hundred
    17  fifty-five  of  this  article, issues of contested [paternity] parentage
    18  involving claims of equitable estoppel,  custody,  visitation  including
    19  visitation   as  a  defense,  and  orders  of  protection  or  exclusive
    20  possession of the home, which shall be referred to a judge  as  provided
    21  in subdivision (b) or (c) of this section. Where an order of [filiation]
    22  parentage is issued by a judge in a [paternity] parentage proceeding and
    23  child  support is in issue, the judge, or support magistrate upon refer-
    24  ral from the judge, shall be authorized to immediately make a  temporary
    25  or  final  order  of  support, as applicable. A support magistrate shall
    26  have the authority to hear and decide motions and  issue  summonses  and
    27  subpoenas to produce persons pursuant to section one hundred fifty-three
    28  of  this act, hear and decide proceedings and issue any order authorized
    29  by subdivision (g) of section five thousand two hundred forty-one of the
    30  civil practice law and  rules,  issue  subpoenas  to  produce  prisoners
    31  pursuant to section two thousand three hundred two of the civil practice
    32  law  and  rules  and  make  a  determination  that any person before the
    33  support magistrate is in violation of an order of the court  as  author-
    34  ized  by  section one hundred fifty-six of this act subject to confirma-
    35  tion by a judge of the court who shall impose any  punishment  for  such
    36  violation  as  provided  by law. A determination by a support magistrate
    37  that a person is in willful violation  of  an  order  under  subdivision
    38  three of section four hundred fifty-four of this article and that recom-
    39  mends  commitment  shall  be  transmitted to the parties, accompanied by
    40  findings of fact, but the determination shall have no force  and  effect
    41  until confirmed by a judge of the court.
    42    §  6.  Subdivision  (b)  of  section 458-a of the family court act, as
    43  added by chapter 398 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
    44    (b) If the respondent, after receiving appropriate  notice,  fails  to
    45  comply  with  a  summons,  subpoena or warrant relating to a [paternity]
    46  parentage proceeding under article five of this  act  or  child  support
    47  proceeding,  the  court  may  order  the department of motor vehicles to
    48  suspend the respondent's driving privileges. The court may  subsequently
    49  order  the  department  of motor vehicles to terminate the suspension of
    50  the respondent's driving privileges; however, the court shall order  the
    51  termination  of  such  suspension  when  the court is satisfied that the
    52  respondent has fully complied with the requirements  of  all  summonses,
    53  subpoenas  and  warrants  relating to a [paternity] parentage proceeding
    54  under article five of this act or child support proceeding.  Nothing  in
    55  this subdivision shall authorize the court to terminate the respondent's
    56  suspension of driving privileges except as provided in this subdivision.

        A. 8382                             5
 
     1    §  7.  Subdivisions  (b)  and (c) of section 458-b of the family court
     2  act, subdivision (b) as added and subdivision (c) as amended by  chapter
     3  398 of the laws of 1997, are amended to read as follows:
     4    (b)    If  the respondent after receiving appropriate notice, fails to
     5  comply with a summons, subpoena or warrant  relating  to  a  [paternity]
     6  parentage  proceeding  under  article  five of this act or child support
     7  proceeding,  and  the  court  has  determined  that  the  respondent  is
     8  licensed,  permitted  or  registered  by  or  with  a board, department,
     9  authority or office of this state or one of its  political  subdivisions
    10  or instrumentalities to conduct a trade, business, profession or occupa-
    11  tion, the court may order such board, department, authority or office to
    12  commence proceedings as required by law regarding the suspension of such
    13  license, permit, registration or authority to practice and to inform the
    14  court of the actions it has taken pursuant to such proceeding. The court
    15  may  subsequently  order  such board, department, authority or office to
    16  terminate the suspension of the respondent's license, permit,  registra-
    17  tion or authority to practice; however, the court shall order the termi-
    18  nation  of such suspension when the court is satisfied that the respond-
    19  ent has fully complied with the requirements of all summonses, subpoenas
    20  and warrants relating to a [paternity] parentage proceeding under  arti-
    21  cle five of this act or child support proceeding.
    22    (c) If the court determines that the suspension of the license, permit
    23  or  registration  of  the respondent would create an extreme hardship to
    24  either the licensee, permittee or registrant or to persons [whom  he  or
    25  she  serves]  they  serve, the court may, in lieu of suspension, suspend
    26  the order described in subdivision (a) of this section to the  licensing
    27  entity for a period not to exceed one year.  If on or before the expira-
    28  tion of this period the court has not received competent proof presented
    29  at  hearing  that the respondent is in full compliance with [his or her]
    30  the respondent's support obligation and  has  fully  complied  with  all
    31  summons,  subpoenas  and  warrants  relating  to a [paternity] parentage
    32  proceeding under article five of this act or child  support  proceeding,
    33  the  court  shall  cause  the  suspension of the order to be removed and
    34  shall further cause such order to be served upon the licensing entity.
    35    § 8. Subdivision (b) of section 458-c of  the  family  court  act,  as
    36  added by chapter 398 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
    37    (b)  If  the  respondent, after receiving appropriate notice, fails to
    38  comply with a summons, subpoena, or warrant relating  to  a  [paternity]
    39  parentage  proceeding  under  article  five of this act or child support
    40  proceeding, the court may order any agency responsible for the  issuance
    41  of  a  recreational license to suspend or to refuse to reissue a license
    42  to the respondent or  to  deny  application  for  such  license  by  the
    43  respondent.  The  court  may subsequently order such agency to terminate
    44  the adverse action regarding  the  respondent's  license;  however,  the
    45  court  shall  order  the termination of such suspension or other adverse
    46  action when the  court  is  satisfied  that  the  respondent  has  fully
    47  complied  with  the requirements of all summons, subpoenas, and warrants
    48  relating to a [paternity] parentage proceeding  under  article  five  of
    49  this act or child support proceeding.
    50    §  9.  The  article  heading  of  article 5 of the family court act is
    51  amended to read as follows:
    52                      [PATERNITY] PARENTAGE PROCEEDINGS
    53    § 10. Section 511 of the family court act, as amended by  chapter  533
    54  of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
    55    §  511.  Jurisdiction.  Except as otherwise provided, the family court
    56  has exclusive original jurisdiction in proceedings to establish  [pater-

        A. 8382                             6

     1  nity] parentage and, in any such proceedings in which it makes a finding
     2  of [paternity] parentage, to order support and to make orders of custody
     3  or  of  visitation, as set forth in this article. On its own motion, the
     4  court  may  at  any  time in the proceedings also direct the filing of a
     5  neglect petition in accord with the provisions of article  ten  of  this
     6  act.  In  accordance with the provisions of section one hundred eleven-b
     7  of the domestic relations law, the surrogate's court has original juris-
     8  diction concurrent with the family court to determine the issues  relat-
     9  ing to the establishment of [paternity] parentage.
    10    § 11. Section 512 of the family court act, subdivision (d) as added by
    11  chapter 665 of the laws of 1976, is amended to read as follows:
    12    § 512. Definitions. When used in this article,
    13    (a)  The  phrase  "child born out of wedlock" refers to a child who is
    14  begotten and born out of lawful matrimony.
    15    (b) The word "child" refers to a child [born out of wedlock] live-born
    16  individual of any age whose parentage may be determined under  this  act
    17  or other law.
    18    (c)  [The  word  "mother"  refers to the mother of a child born out of
    19  wedlock.
    20    (d) The word "father" refers to the father of a child born out-of-wed-
    21  lock] "Parentage" means a determination  that  a  person  is  the  legal
    22  parent of the child.
    23    (d)  "Parent"  means  an individual who has established a parent-child
    24  relationship created or recognized under this act or other law.
    25    (e) "Alleged parent" means an individual who  has  not  established  a
    26  parentage  but  either seeks to establish parentage of, or is alleged by
    27  another, to be the parent of a child who is the subject of a  proceeding
    28  under this article.
    29    (f)  "Record"  means  information  inscribed  in  a tangible medium or
    30  stored in an electronic or other medium that is retrievable in perceiva-
    31  ble form.
    32    (g) "Spouse" means an individual married to  another,  or  who  has  a
    33  legal  relationship  entered into under the laws of the United States or
    34  of any state, local or  foreign  jurisdiction,  which  is  substantially
    35  equivalent  to  a marriage, including a civil union or domestic partner-
    36  ship.
    37    (h) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Colum-
    38  bia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory  or
    39  insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
    40    §  12.  Section 514 of the family court act, as amended by chapter 215
    41  of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
    42    § 514. Liability [of father to  mother]  for  expenses  of  pregnancy,
    43  confinement  and recovery. The [father] court may determine which parent
    44  is liable for  the  reasonable  expenses  of  the  [mother's]  gestating
    45  parent's  confinement  and  recovery  and  such  reasonable  expenses in
    46  connection  with  [her]  the  pregnancy  as  determined  by  the  court;
    47  provided,  however, where the [mother's] gestating parent's confinement,
    48  recovery and expenses in connection with [her] the pregnancy  were  paid
    49  under  the  medical  assistance  program  on  the  [mother's]  gestating
    50  parent's behalf, the [father] non-gestating parent may be liable to  the
    51  social  services  district furnishing such medical assistance and to the
    52  state department of health for  medical  assistance  so  expended.  Such
    53  expenses, including such expenses paid by the medical assistance program
    54  on  the  [mother's]  gestating  parent's  behalf,  shall  be deemed cash
    55  medical support and the court shall  determine  the  obligation  of  the
    56  parties  to contribute to the cost thereof pursuant to subparagraph five

        A. 8382                             7
 
     1  of paragraph (c) of subdivision one of section four hundred thirteen  of
     2  this act.
     3    §  13.  Section 517 of the family court act, as amended by chapter 809
     4  of the laws of 1985, is amended to read as follows:
     5    § 517. Time for instituting proceedings. Proceedings to establish  the
     6  [paternity]  parentage of a child may be instituted during the pregnancy
     7  of the [mother] gestating parent or after the birth of  the  child,  but
     8  shall  not  be  brought  after  the  child reaches the age of twenty-one
     9  years,  unless  [paternity]  parentage  has  been  acknowledged  by  the
    10  [father] non-gestating parent in writing or by furnishing support.
    11    §  14.  Section 518 of the family court act, as amended by chapter 310
    12  of the laws of 1983, is amended to read as follows:
    13    § 518. Effect of death, absence, or mental illness of [mother] gestat-
    14  ing parent. If, at any time before or after a  petition  is  filed,  the
    15  [mother]  gestating  parent  dies  or  becomes mentally ill or cannot be
    16  found within the state, neither the proceeding nor the right to commence
    17  the proceeding shall abate but may be commenced or continued by  any  of
    18  the persons authorized by this article to commence a [paternity] parent-
    19  age proceeding.
    20    §  15. Section 519 of the family court act, as added by chapter 434 of
    21  the laws of 1987 and subdivision (c) as amended by chapter  533  of  the
    22  laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
    23    § 519. Effect of death, absence or mental illness of [putative father]
    24  alleged  parent.    If,  at  any time before or after a petition [if] is
    25  filed, the [putative father] alleged parent dies,  or  becomes  mentally
    26  ill  or cannot be found within the state, neither the proceeding nor the
    27  right to commence the proceeding shall  necessarily  abate  but  may  be
    28  commenced  or continued by any of the persons authorized by this article
    29  to commence a [paternity] parentage proceeding where:
    30    (a) the [putative father] alleged parent was  the  petitioner  in  the
    31  [paternity] parentage proceeding; or,
    32    (b)  the  [putative  father]  alleged  parent acknowledged [paternity]
    33  parentage of the child in open court; or,
    34    (c) a genetic marker or DNA test had been administered to  the  [puta-
    35  tive  father] alleged parent  prior to [his] the alleged parent's death;
    36  or,
    37    (d) the [putative father] alleged parent has  openly  and  notoriously
    38  acknowledged the child [as his own].
    39    §  16.  Section  521  of  the  family  court act is amended to read as
    40  follows:
    41    § 521. Venue. Proceedings to establish [paternity]  parentage  may  be
    42  originated  in  the  county where the [mother] gestating parent or child
    43  resides or is found or in the county where the [putative father] alleged
    44  parent resides or is found. The fact that the child was born outside  of
    45  the state of New York does not bar a proceeding to establish [paternity]
    46  parentage  in  the  county  where  the  [putative father] alleged parent
    47  resides or is found or in the county where the [mother] gestating parent
    48  resides or the child is found.
    49    § 17. Section 522 of the family court act, as amended by  chapter  892
    50  of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows:
    51    §  522.  Persons  who  may  originate  proceedings. (a) Proceedings to
    52  establish the [paternity] parentage of  [the]  a  child  and  to  compel
    53  support under this article may be commenced by [the mother,]:
    54    (1)  the  gestating  parent or alleged non-gestating parent, whether a
    55  minor or not, [by a person alleging to be the father, whether a minor or
    56  not, by the] or

        A. 8382                             8
 
     1    (2) a child or child's guardian or other person standing in a parental
     2  relation or being the next of kin of the child, or [by]
     3    (3)  an  authorized  representative of a support enforcement agency or
     4  other governmental agency authorized to maintain a parentage proceeding,
     5  a representative authorized by law to act for an  individual  who  would
     6  otherwise  be  entitled  to  maintain  a proceeding but who is deceased,
     7  incapacitated, or
     8    (4) a minor, in order to legally establish the child-parent  relation-
     9  ship, or
    10    (5)  any  authorized  representative  of an incorporated society doing
    11  charitable or philanthropic work, or if the [mother] gestating parent or
    12  child is or is likely to become a public charge on  a  county,  city  or
    13  town, by a public welfare official of the county, city or town where the
    14  [mother] gestating parent resides or the child is found.
    15    (b)  An  alleged  parent  may  file  a petition to establish parentage
    16  notwithstanding an acknowledgment of parentage signed by  the  gestating
    17  parent and another alleged parent.
    18    (c)  If  a  proceeding  is  originated  by a [public welfare official]
    19  support enforcement agency,  other  governmental  agency  or  authorized
    20  representative  of  an  incorporated society doing charitable or philan-
    21  thropic work and thereafter withdrawn or dismissed without consideration
    22  on the merits, such withdrawal or dismissal shall be  without  prejudice
    23  to other persons.
    24    §  18.  Section 523 of the family court act, as amended by chapter 398
    25  of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
    26    § 523. Petition to establish parentage.  (a) Proceedings are commenced
    27  by the filing of a verified petition, alleging that the person named  as
    28  respondent,  or the petitioner if the petitioner is a person alleging to
    29  be the child's [father] parent of a child born out of  wedlock,  is  the
    30  [father]  parent  of  the  child  and  petitioning  the court to issue a
    31  summons or a warrant, requiring the respondent to  show  cause  why  the
    32  court  should not enter a declaration of [paternity] parentage, an order
    33  of support, and such other and further  relief  as  may  be  appropriate
    34  under  the circumstances.  Petitions involving assisted reproduction and
    35  surrogacy shall be filed in accordance with article 5-C of this act.
    36    (b) The petition shall be in writing and verified by the petitioner.
    37    (c) Any such petition for the establishment of  [paternity]  parentage
    38  or the establishment, modification and/or enforcement of a child support
    39  obligation  for  persons  not  in  receipt  of  family assistance, which
    40  contains a request for child support enforcement services completed in a
    41  manner as specified in  section  one  hundred  eleven-g  of  the  social
    42  services law, shall constitute an application for such services.
    43    (d) In the event that the gestating parent signed an acknowledgment of
    44  parentage  with a person other than the alleged parent, the signatory to
    45  the acknowledgment of parentage is a necessary party and must  be  named
    46  as a respondent.
    47    § 19. Section 524 of the family court act, as amended by chapter 59 of
    48  the  laws  of  1993 and subdivision (b) as amended by chapter 398 of the
    49  laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
    50    § 524. Issuance of summons. (a) On receiving a petition sufficient  in
    51  law  [commencing]  to  commence  a [paternity] parentage proceeding, the
    52  court shall cause a summons to be issued, requiring  the  respondent  to
    53  show  cause  why  the  [declaration  of paternity,] order of [filiation]
    54  parentage, order of support and other and further relief [prayed for by]
    55  requested in the petition should not be made.

        A. 8382                             9
 
     1    (b)  The summons shall contain or have attached thereto a notice stat-
     2  ing: (i) that the respondent's failure to appear  shall  result  in  the
     3  default  entry  of  an  order of [filiation] parentage by the court upon
     4  proof of a  respondent's  actual  notice  of  the  commencement  of  the
     5  proceeding;  and   (ii) that a respondent's failure to appear may result
     6  in the suspension of [his or her] the respondent's  driving  privileges;
     7  state  professional,  occupational  and  business licenses; and sporting
     8  licenses and permits.
     9    § 20. Subdivision (c) of section 525  of  the  family  court  act,  as
    10  amended  by  chapter  59  of  the  laws  of  1993, is amended to read as
    11  follows:
    12    (c) In any case, whether or not service is attempted under subdivision
    13  (a) or (b) of this section, service of a summons and petition under this
    14  section may be effected by mail alone to the last known address  of  the
    15  person  to be served. Service by mail alone shall be made at least eight
    16  days before the time stated in the summons for appearance. If service is
    17  by mail alone, the court will enter an order of [filiation] parentage by
    18  default if there is proof satisfactory to the court that the  respondent
    19  had  actual  notice  of the commencement of the proceeding, which may be
    20  established upon sufficient proof that the summons and petition were  in
    21  fact mailed by certified mail and signed for at the respondent's correct
    22  street address or signed for at the post office. If service by certified
    23  mail  at the respondent's correct street address cannot be accomplished,
    24  service pursuant to subdivision one, two, three or four of section three
    25  hundred eight of the civil practice law and rules shall be  deemed  good
    26  and sufficient service. Upon failure of the respondent to obey a summons
    27  served  in accordance with the provisions of this section by means other
    28  than mail alone, the court will enter an order of [filiation]  parentage
    29  by  default.    The respondent shall have the right to make a motion for
    30  relief from such default order within one year from the date such  order
    31  was entered.
    32    §  21.  Section 531 of the family court act, as amended by chapter 665
    33  of the laws of 1976, is amended to read as follows:
    34    § 531. Hearing. The trial shall be by the court without  a  jury.  The
    35  [mother  or  the alleged father] gestating parent and the alleged parent
    36  shall be competent to testify but the respondent shall not be  compelled
    37  to  testify.  If the [mother is] parties are married, they both [she and
    38  her husband] may testify to nonaccess. If  the  respondent  shall  offer
    39  testimony  of  access  by  others  at  or  about the time charged in the
    40  complaint, such testimony  shall  not  be  competent  or  admissible  in
    41  evidence except when corroborated by other facts and circumstances tend-
    42  ing  to prove such access. The court may exclude the general public from
    43  the room where the proceedings are heard  and  may  admit  only  persons
    44  directly  interested  in  the  case, including officers of the court and
    45  witnesses.
    46    § 22. Subdivisions (a) and (c) of section 532 of the family court act,
    47  subdivision (a) as amended by chapter 214 of the laws of 1998 and subdi-
    48  vision (c) as added by chapter 773 of the laws of 1982 as relettered  by
    49  chapter 311 of the laws of 1983, are amended to read as follows:
    50    (a)  The  court shall advise the parties of their right to one or more
    51  genetic marker tests or DNA tests and, on the court's own motion or  the
    52  motion  of  any  party, shall order the [mother] gestating parent, [her]
    53  the child and the alleged [father]  parent,  and,  if  appropriate,  the
    54  non-gestating  signatory to an acknowledgement of parentage to submit to
    55  one or more genetic marker or DNA tests of a type generally acknowledged
    56  as reliable by an accreditation body designated by the secretary of  the

        A. 8382                            10
 
     1  federal department of health and human services and performed by a labo-
     2  ratory approved by such an accreditation body and by the commissioner of
     3  health  or  by a duly qualified physician to aid in the determination of
     4  whether  the alleged [father] parent is or is not the [father] parent of
     5  the child. No such test shall be ordered, however, upon a written  find-
     6  ing  by  the  court that it is not in the best interests of the child on
     7  the basis of res judicata, equitable estoppel,  or  the  presumption  of
     8  legitimacy  of  a  child born to a married [woman] couple. The record or
     9  report of the results of any such genetic marker  or  DNA  test  ordered
    10  pursuant  to this section or pursuant to section one hundred eleven-k of
    11  the social services law shall be  received  in  evidence  by  the  court
    12  pursuant  to  subdivision (e) of rule forty-five hundred eighteen of the
    13  civil practice law and rules where no timely objection  in  writing  has
    14  been  made thereto and that if such timely objections are not made, they
    15  shall be deemed waived and shall not be  heard  by  the  court.  If  the
    16  record  or  report of the results of any such genetic marker or DNA test
    17  or tests indicate at least a ninety-five percent probability of  [pater-
    18  nity]  parentage,  the admission of such record or report shall create a
    19  rebuttable presumption of [paternity] parentage, and shall establish, if
    20  unrebutted, the [paternity] parentage of and liability for  the  support
    21  of a child pursuant to this article and article four of this act.
    22    (c)  The  cost of any test ordered pursuant to subdivision (a) of this
    23  section shall be, in the first instance, paid by the  moving  party.  If
    24  the  moving  party is financially unable to pay such cost, the court may
    25  direct any qualified public health officer  to  conduct  such  test,  if
    26  practicable;  otherwise,  the court may direct payment from the funds of
    27  the appropriate local social services district. In its order of disposi-
    28  tion, however, the court may direct that the cost of any  such  test  be
    29  apportioned  between the parties according to their respective abilities
    30  to pay or be assessed against the party who  does  not  prevail  on  the
    31  issue  of [paternity] parentage, unless such party is financially unable
    32  to pay.
    33    § 23. Section 534 of the family court act, as amended by  chapter  665
    34  of the laws of 1976, is amended to read as follows:
    35    §  534.  Adjournment  on motion of court. On its own motion, the court
    36  may adjourn the hearing after it  has  made  a  finding  of  [paternity]
    37  parentage to enable it to make inquiry into the surroundings, conditions
    38  and  capacities of the child, into the financial abilities and responsi-
    39  bilities of both parents or for other proper  cause.  If  the  court  so
    40  adjourns the hearing, it may require the respondent to give an undertak-
    41  ing to appear.
    42    §  24.  Section 536 of the family court act, as amended by chapter 892
    43  of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows:
    44    § 536. Counsel fees. Once an order of [filiation] parentage  is  made,
    45  the  court  in its discretion may allow counsel fees to the attorney for
    46  the prevailing party or parties, if [he or she is] they  are  unable  to
    47  pay  such  counsel fees. Representation by an attorney pursuant to para-
    48  graph (b) of subdivision nine of section one  hundred  eleven-b  of  the
    49  social  services  law  shall not preclude an award of counsel fees to an
    50  applicant which would otherwise be allowed under this section.
    51    § 25. Section 541 of the family court act, as amended by  chapter  665
    52  of the laws of 1976, is amended to read as follows:
    53    §  541.  Order dismissing petition. If the court finds [the male party
    54  is not the father] that the alleged parent is not a parent of the child,
    55  it shall dismiss the petition. If a neglect petition was  filed  in  the
    56  [paternity]  parentage  proceeding,  the court retains jurisdiction over

        A. 8382                            11
 
     1  the neglect petition whether or not it dismisses the [paternity] parent-
     2  age petition.
     3    §  26.  Section 542 of the family court act, as amended by chapter 354
     4  of the laws of 1993, and subdivisions (a), (b) and  (c)  as  amended  by
     5  chapter 398 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
     6    §  542.  Order  of [filiation] parentage.  (a) If the court finds that
     7  the [male party] alleged parent is the [father] parent of the child,  it
     8  shall make an order of [filiation, declaring paternity. Such order shall
     9  contain the social security number of the declared father] parentage.
    10    (b)  If  the  respondent  willfully  fails  to appear before the court
    11  subsequent to the administration and analysis of a genetic  marker  test
    12  or  DNA test administered pursuant to sections four hundred eighteen and
    13  five hundred thirty-two of this act or section one hundred  eleven-k  of
    14  the  social services law, and if such test does not exclude the respond-
    15  ent as being the [father] parent of the child or  the  court  determines
    16  that   there   exists  clear  and  convincing  evidence  of  [paternity]
    17  parentage, the court shall enter an order of temporary support  notwith-
    18  standing that [paternity] parentage of such child has [not] neither been
    19  established  nor  has  an  order  of  [filiation] parentage been entered
    20  against the respondent.  The respondent shall be prospectively  relieved
    21  from  liability  for  support under such order of temporary support upon
    22  the respondent's appearance before the court.
    23    (c) If the respondent willfully fails to comply with an  order made by
    24  either the court pursuant to sections four  hundred  eighteen  and  five
    25  hundred  thirty-two  of  this  act  or  by a social services official or
    26  designee pursuant to section one hundred eleven-k of the social services
    27  law, and willfully fails to  appear  before  the  court  when  otherwise
    28  required,  the  court shall enter an order of temporary support notwith-
    29  standing that [paternity] parentage  of  the  subject  child  has  [not]
    30  neither  been established nor has an order of [filiation] parentage been
    31  entered against the respondent.  The respondent shall  be  prospectively
    32  relieved  from  liability  for  support  under  such  order of temporary
    33  support upon the respondent's compliance with such order and  subsequent
    34  appearance before the court.
    35    (d) If the gestating parent signed an acknowledgment of parentage with
    36  another  person  whom  the court has determined is not the parent of the
    37  child, the court shall make an  order  vacating  the  acknowledgment  of
    38  parentage at the same time that it makes the order of parentage.
    39    §  27.  Section  543  of  the  family  court act is amended to read as
    40  follows:
    41    § 543. Transmission of order of [filiation] parentage. When  an  order
    42  of [filiation] parentage is made, the clerk of the court shall forthwith
    43  transmit  to  the  state  commissioner of health on a form prescribed by
    44  [him] the commissioner a written notification as to such order, together
    45  with such other facts as may assist in identifying the birth  record  of
    46  the  person whose [paternity] parentage was in issue. When it appears to
    47  the clerk that the person whose [paternity]  parentage  was  established
    48  was  born  in New York city, [he] the clerk shall forthwith transmit the
    49  written notification aforesaid to the commissioner of health of the city
    50  of New York instead of to the state commissioner of health.
    51    § 28. Section 544 of the family  court  act  is  amended  to  read  as
    52  follows:
    53    §  544.  Transmission of abrogation of [filiation] parentage order. If
    54  an order of [filiation] parentage is abrogated by a  later  judgment  or
    55  order of the court that originally made the order or by another court on
    56  appeal,  that  fact  shall be immediately communicated in writing by the

        A. 8382                            12
 
     1  clerk of the court that originally made the order of [filiation] parent-
     2  age to the state commissioner of health on a form  prescribed  by  [him]
     3  the  commissioner.  If notice of the order was given to the commissioner
     4  of health of New York city, notice of abrogation shall be transmitted to
     5  [him] the commissioner of health of the city of New York.
     6    §  29.  Section 545 of the family court act, as amended by chapter 849
     7  of the laws of 1986, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 215 of the laws
     8  of 2009 and subdivision 2 as added by chapter 892 of the laws  of  1986,
     9  is amended to read as follows:
    10    §  545.  Order  of support by parents. 1. In a proceeding in which the
    11  court has made an order of [filiation] parentage, the court shall direct
    12  the parent or parents possessed of sufficient means or able to earn such
    13  means to pay weekly or at other fixed periods a fair and reasonable  sum
    14  according  to  their  respective  means  as  the court may determine and
    15  apportion for such child's support and education,  until  the  child  is
    16  twenty-one.  The  order shall be effective as of the earlier of the date
    17  of the application for an order of [filiation]  parentage,  or,  if  the
    18  children for whom support is sought are in receipt of public assistance,
    19  the  date  for  which their eligibility for public assistance was effec-
    20  tive.  Any  retroactive  amount  of  child  support  shall  be   support
    21  arrears/past-due  support  and shall be paid in one sum or periodic sums
    22  as the court shall direct, taking into account any amount  of  temporary
    23  support which has been paid. In addition, such retroactive child support
    24  shall  be  enforceable  in any manner provided by law including, but not
    25  limited to, an execution for support enforcement pursuant to subdivision
    26  (b) of section fifty-two hundred forty-one of the civil practice law and
    27  rules.  The court shall direct such parent to  make  [his  or  her]  the
    28  parent's  residence known at all times should [he or she] they move from
    29  the address last known to the court by  reporting  such  change  to  the
    30  support  collection  unit  designated by the appropriate social services
    31  district. The order shall contain the social  security  numbers  of  the
    32  named  parents  as  required  by section four hundred forty of this act.
    33  The order may also direct each parent to pay an amount as the court  may
    34  determine and apportion for the support of the child prior to the making
    35  of the order of [filiation] parentage, and may direct each parent to pay
    36  an  amount  as  the  court  may  determine and apportion for the funeral
    37  expenses if the child has died.  The necessary expenses incurred  by  or
    38  for  the mother in connection with her confinement and recovery and such
    39  expenses in connection with the pregnancy of the mother shall be  deemed
    40  cash  medical  support,  and the court shall determine the obligation of
    41  either or both parents to contribute to the  cost  thereof  pursuant  to
    42  subparagraph  five  of  paragraph (c) of subdivision one of section four
    43  hundred thirteen  of  this  act.  In  addition,  the  court  shall  make
    44  provisions for health insurance benefits in accordance with the require-
    45  ments of section four hundred sixteen of this act.
    46    2.  The  court, in its discretion, taking into consideration the means
    47  of the [father] respondent and [his] such respondent's  ability  to  pay
    48  and  the  needs of the child, may direct the payment of a reasonable sum
    49  or periodic sums to the [mother] other parent as reimbursement  for  the
    50  needs  of  the child accruing from the date of the birth of the child to
    51  the date of the application for an order of [filiation] parentage.
    52    § 30. Section 548-a of the family court act, as added by  chapter  398
    53  of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
    54    §  548-a.  [Paternity] Parentage or child support proceedings; suspen-
    55  sion of driving privileges.   (a)   If the respondent,  after  receiving
    56  appropriate  notice, fails to comply with a summons, subpoena or warrant

        A. 8382                            13
 
     1  relating to a [paternity] parentage or  child  support  proceeding,  the
     2  court may order the department of motor vehicles to suspend the respond-
     3  ent's driving privileges.
     4    (b)  The court may subsequently order the department of motor vehicles
     5  to terminate the suspension  of  the  respondent's  driving  privileges;
     6  however,  the  court shall order the termination of such suspension when
     7  the court is satisfied that the respondent has fully complied  with  the
     8  requirements  of  all  summonses,  subpoenas  and warrants relating to a
     9  [paternity] parentage or child support proceeding.
    10    § 31. Section 548-b of the family court act, as added by  chapter  398
    11  of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
    12    §  548-b.  [Paternity] Parentage or child support proceedings; suspen-
    13  sion of state professional, occupational and business licenses.  (a)  If
    14  the respondent, after receiving appropriate notice, fails to comply with
    15  a  summons,  subpoena  or warrant relating to a [paternity] parentage or
    16  child support proceeding, and the court has determined that the respond-
    17  ent is licensed, permitted or registered by or with a board, department,
    18  authority or office of this state or one of its  political  subdivisions
    19  or instrumentalities to conduct a trade, business, profession or occupa-
    20  tion, the court may order such board, department, authority or office to
    21  commence proceedings as required by law regarding the suspension of such
    22  license, permit, registration or authority to practice and to inform the
    23  court of the actions it has taken pursuant to such proceeding.
    24    (b) The court may subsequently order such board, department, authority
    25  or  office  to  terminate  the  suspension  of the respondent's license,
    26  permit, registration or authority to practice; however, the court  shall
    27  order  the  termination  of  such suspension when the court is satisfied
    28  that the respondent has fully complied with all summons,  subpoenas  and
    29  warrants  relating  to a [paternity] parentage or child support proceed-
    30  ing.
    31    § 32. Section 548-c of the family court act, as added by  chapter  398
    32  of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
    33    §  548-c.  [Paternity] Parentage or child support proceedings; suspen-
    34  sion of recreational licenses. If the respondent, after receiving appro-
    35  priate notice, fails to comply with  a  summons,  subpoena,  or  warrant
    36  relating  to  a  [paternity]  parentage or child support proceeding, the
    37  court may order any agency responsible for the issuance of a recreation-
    38  al license to suspend or to refuse to reissue a license to the  respond-
    39  ent or to deny application for such license by the respondent. The court
    40  may  subsequently  order  such  agency  to  terminate the adverse action
    41  regarding  the respondent's license; however, the court shall order  the
    42  termination of such suspension or other adverse action when the court is
    43  satisfied  that  the respondent has fully complied with the requirements
    44  of all summons,  subpoenas,  and  warrants  relating  to  a  [paternity]
    45  parentage or child support proceeding.
    46    §  33.  Subdivision  (a)  of  section  549 of the family court act, as
    47  amended by chapter 85 of the  laws  of  1996,  is  amended  to  read  as
    48  follows:
    49    (a)  If  an  order of [filiation] parentage is made [or if a paternity
    50  agreement or compromise is approved by the court], in the absence of  an
    51  order of custody or of visitation entered by the supreme court the fami-
    52  ly  court  may  make an order of custody or of visitation, in accordance
    53  with subdivision one of  section  two  hundred  forty  of  the  domestic
    54  relations  law,  requiring  one  parent to permit the other to visit the
    55  child or children at stated periods.

        A. 8382                            14
 
     1    § 34. Subdivision (h) of section 551  of  the  family  court  act,  as
     2  amended  by  chapter  526  of  the  laws  of 2013, is amended to read as
     3  follows:
     4    (h)  to  pay the reasonable counsel fees and disbursements involved in
     5  obtaining or enforcing the order of the person who is protected by  such
     6  order  if  such  order is issued or enforced, whether or not an order of
     7  [filiation] parentage is made;
     8    § 35. Section 561 of the family  court  act  is  amended  to  read  as
     9  follows:
    10    §  561. Proceedings to compel support by [mother] parents. Proceedings
    11  may be initiated under article four of this act  to  compel  a  [mother]
    12  parent  who fails to support [her] the child to do so in accord with the
    13  provisions of article four of this act.
    14    § 36. Section 562 of the family court act is REPEALED.
    15    § 37. Section 563 of the family  court  act  is  amended  to  read  as
    16  follows:
    17    §  563. [Paternity] Parentage and support proceedings combined; appor-
    18  tionment.   When a proceeding  to  establish  [paternity]  parentage  is
    19  initiated  under  this article, the court on its own motion or on motion
    20  of any person qualified under article four of this act to file a support
    21  petition may direct the filing of  a  petition  under  article  four  to
    22  compel  the  [mother]  parent  to  support [her] the child. If the court
    23  enters an order of [filiation] parentage, it may apportion the costs  of
    24  the  support and education of the child between the parents according to
    25  their respective means and responsibilities.
    26    § 38. Section 564 of the family court act, as added by chapter 440  of
    27  the laws of 1978, is amended to read as follows:
    28    § 564. Order of [filiation] parentage in other proceedings. (a) In any
    29  proceeding  in  the  family  court,  whether under this act or under any
    30  other law, if there is an allegation or statement in a petition  that  a
    31  person  is the [father] parent of a child who is a party to the proceed-
    32  ing or also is a subject of the proceeding and if it shall  appear  that
    33  the child is a child born [out-of-wedlock] out of wedlock, the court may
    34  make an order of [filiation] parentage declaring the [paternity] parent-
    35  age of the child in accordance with the provisions of this section.
    36    (b)  The  court may make such an order of [filiation] parentage if (1)
    37  both parents are before the  court,  (2)  the  [father]  alleged  parent
    38  waives  both the filing of a petition under section five hundred twenty-
    39  three of this [act] article and the right to  a  hearing  under  section
    40  five  hundred  thirty-three  of this [act] article, and (3) the court is
    41  satisfied as to the [paternity] parentage of the child from the testimo-
    42  ny or sworn statements of the parents.
    43    (c) The court may in any such  proceeding  in  its  discretion  direct
    44  [either  the  mother or] any [other] person empowered under section five
    45  hundred twenty-two of this [act] article to  file  a  verified  petition
    46  under section five hundred twenty-three of this [act] article.
    47    (d)  The  provisions  of part four of this article five shall apply to
    48  any order of [filiation] parentage made under this  section.  The  court
    49  may  in its discretion direct a severance of proceedings upon such order
    50  of [filiation] parentage from the proceeding upon the petition  referred
    51  to in subdivision (a) of this section.
    52    (e) For the purposes of this section the term "petition" shall include
    53  a complaint in a civil action, an accusatory instrument under the crimi-
    54  nal  procedure law, a writ of habeas corpus, a petition for supplemental
    55  relief, and any amendment in writing of any of the foregoing.

        A. 8382                            15
 
     1    § 39. The article heading of article 5-A of the family court  act,  as
     2  added by chapter 685 of the laws of 1975, is amended to read as follows:
     3             SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO ENFORCEMENT OF SUPPORT
     4                 AND ESTABLISHMENT OF [PATERNITY] PARENTAGE
     5    §  40.  The section heading and subdivisions 1 and 8 of section 571 of
     6  the family court act, the section heading as added by chapter 685 of the
     7  laws of 1975 and subdivisions 1 and 8 as amended by section 111 of  part
     8  B of chapter 436 of the laws of 1997, are amended to read as follows:
     9    Enforcement  of support and establishment of [paternity] parentage. 1.
    10  Any inconsistent provision of this law or any other law notwithstanding,
    11  in cases where a social services official has accepted, on behalf of the
    12  state and a social services district, an assignment  of  support  rights
    13  from  a person applying for or receiving family assistance in accordance
    14  with the provisions of the social  services  law,  the  social  services
    15  official  or  an authorized representative of the state is authorized to
    16  bring a proceeding or proceedings in the family court pursuant to  arti-
    17  cle  four of this act to enforce such support rights and, when appropri-
    18  ate or necessary, to establish the  [paternity]  parentage  of  a  child
    19  pursuant to article five of this act.
    20    8.  Any  other  inconsistent  provision  of law notwithstanding, if an
    21  applicant for or recipient of  family  assistance  is  pregnant,  and  a
    22  proceeding  to  establish  [paternity] parentage has been filed, and the
    23  allegation of [paternity] parentage is denied by  the  respondent  there
    24  shall  be  a  stay  of all [paternity] parentage proceedings until sixty
    25  days after the birth of the child.
    26    § 41. Section 817 of the family court act, as amended by  chapter  628
    27  of the laws of 1978, is amended to read as follows:
    28    § 817. Support, [paternity] parentage and child protection. On its own
    29  motion  and at any time in proceedings under this article, the court may
    30  direct the filing of a child protective petition under  article  ten  of
    31  this  [chapter] act, a support petition under article four, or a [pater-
    32  nity] parentage petition under article five or five-C of  this  act  and
    33  consolidate the proceedings.
    34    § 42. Section 1084 of the family court act, as added by chapter 457 of
    35  the laws of 1988, is amended to read as follows:
    36    §  1084. [Out-of-wedlock] Out of wedlock children; [paternity] parent-
    37  age. No visitation right shall be enforceable under this part concerning
    38  any legal parent or any person claiming to be a parent  of  an  [out-of-
    39  wedlock] out of wedlock child without an adjudication of the [paternity]
    40  parentage  of such person by a court of competent jurisdiction, or with-
    41  out an acknowledgement of  the  [paternity]  parentage  of  such  person
    42  executed pursuant to applicable provisions of law.
    43    §  43. Subdivisions (d) and (g) of rule 4518 of the civil practice law
    44  and rules, subdivision (d) as amended and subdivision (g)  as  added  by
    45  chapter 398 of the laws of 1997, are amended to read as follows:
    46    (d) Any records or reports relating to the administration and analysis
    47  of  a  genetic  marker  or DNA test, including records or reports of the
    48  costs of such tests, administered  pursuant  to  sections  four  hundred
    49  eighteen  and five hundred thirty-two of the family court act or section
    50  one hundred eleven-k of  the  social  services  law  are  admissible  in
    51  evidence  under  this  rule  and  are  prima facie evidence of the facts
    52  contained therein provided they bear a certification  or  authentication
    53  by  the  head  of  the  hospital,  laboratory, department or bureau of a
    54  municipal corporation or the state or by an employee delegated for  that
    55  purpose,  or by a qualified physician. If such record or report relating
    56  to the administration and analysis of a genetic marker test or DNA  test

        A. 8382                            16
 
     1  or  tests  administered  pursuant  to sections four hundred eighteen and
     2  five hundred thirty-two of the family court act or section  one  hundred
     3  eleven-k  of  the  social  services law indicates at least a ninety-five
     4  percent  probability  of  [paternity]  parentage,  the admission of such
     5  record or report shall create a rebuttable  presumption  of  [paternity]
     6  parentage, and shall, if unrebutted, establish the [paternity] parentage
     7  of  and  liability  for the support of a child pursuant to articles four
     8  and five of the family court act.
     9    (g) Pregnancy and childbirth costs.  Any  hospital  bills  or  records
    10  relating  to  the  costs  of  pregnancy  or  birth  of  a child for whom
    11  proceedings to establish [paternity]  parentage,  pursuant  to  sections
    12  four  hundred eighteen [and], five hundred thirty-two and article five-C
    13  of the family court act or section one hundred eleven-k  of  the  social
    14  services  law  have  been  or  are  being  undertaken, are admissible in
    15  evidence under this rule and are  prima  facie  evidence  of  the  facts
    16  contained  therein, provided they bear a certification or authentication
    17  by the head of the hospital,  laboratory,  department  or  bureau  of  a
    18  municipal corporation or the state or by an employee designated for that
    19  purpose, or by a qualified physician.
    20    §  44. Subdivision 4 of section 75-a of the domestic relations law, as
    21  added by chapter 386 of the laws of 2001, is amended to read as follows:
    22    4. "Child custody proceeding" means a proceeding in which legal custo-
    23  dy, physical custody, or visitation with respect to a child is an issue.
    24  The term includes a proceeding for divorce, separation, neglect,  abuse,
    25  dependency,   guardianship,   parentage  or  paternity,  termination  of
    26  parental rights, and protection from domestic  violence,  in  which  the
    27  issue may appear. The term does not include a proceeding involving juve-
    28  nile  delinquency,  person in need of supervision, contractual emancipa-
    29  tion, or enforcement under title three of this article.
    30    § 45. The section heading and subdivisions 1 and 3 of section 111-b of
    31  the domestic relations law, as added by chapter 575 of the laws of 1980,
    32  are amended to read as follows:
    33    Determination of issue of [paternity] parentage by surrogate;  limita-
    34  tions.  1. In the course of an adoption proceeding conducted pursuant to
    35  this article the surrogate shall  have  jurisdiction  to  determine  any
    36  issue  of  [paternity]  parentage  arising  in  the  course  of the same
    37  proceeding and to make findings and issue an order thereon.
    38    3. A judge of the family court shall continue to exercise all  of  the
    39  powers  relating  to  adoption  and declaration of [paternity] parentage
    40  conferred upon the family court by law.
    41    § 46. Paragraph (j) of subdivision 1 of section 240  of  the  domestic
    42  relations law, as amended by chapter 624 of the laws of 2002, is amended
    43  to read as follows:
    44    (j)  The  order  shall  be effective as of the date of the application
    45  therefor, and any retroactive amount  of  child  support  due  shall  be
    46  support arrears/past due support and shall, except as provided for here-
    47  in, be paid in one lump sum or periodic sums, as the court shall direct,
    48  taking into account any amount of temporary support which has been paid.
    49  In  addition, such retroactive child support shall be enforceable in any
    50  manner provided by law including, but not limited to, an  execution  for
    51  support  enforcement  pursuant  to  subdivision (b) of section fifty-two
    52  hundred forty-one of the civil practice law and rules.    When  a  child
    53  receiving  support  is  a  public  assistance recipient, or the order of
    54  support is being enforced or is to be enforced pursuant to  section  one
    55  hundred  eleven-g  of the social services law, the court shall establish
    56  the amount of retroactive child support and notify the parties that such

        A. 8382                            17
 
     1  amount shall be enforced by the support collection unit pursuant  to  an
     2  execution  for support enforcement as provided for in subdivision (b) of
     3  section fifty-two hundred forty-one of the civil practice law and rules,
     4  or  in  such periodic payments as would have been authorized had such an
     5  execution been issued. In such case, the courts  shall  not  direct  the
     6  schedule  of  repayment  of retroactive support. Where such direction is
     7  for child support and [paternity] parentage has been  established  by  a
     8  voluntary acknowledgement of [paternity] parentage as defined in section
     9  forty-one  hundred  thirty-five-b  of  the  public health law, the court
    10  shall inquire of the parties whether the acknowledgement has  been  duly
    11  filed,  and unless satisfied that it has been so filed shall require the
    12  clerk of the court to file such  acknowledgement  with  the  appropriate
    13  registrar  within  five business days. Such direction may be made in the
    14  final judgment in such action or proceeding, or by one  or  more  orders
    15  from  time  to  time  before or subsequent to final judgment, or by both
    16  such order or orders and the final judgment. Such direction may be  made
    17  notwithstanding  that  the  court  for any reason whatsoever, other than
    18  lack of jurisdiction, refuses to  grant  the  relief  requested  in  the
    19  action  or  proceeding.  Any  order  or judgment made as in this section
    20  provided may combine in one lump sum any amount payable to the custodial
    21  parent under this section with any amount payable to such  parent  under
    22  section  two hundred thirty-six of this article. Upon the application of
    23  either parent, or of any other person or party having the care,  custody
    24  and control of such child pursuant to such judgment or order, after such
    25  notice  to the other party, parties or persons having such care, custody
    26  and control and given in such manner as  the  court  shall  direct,  the
    27  court  may  annul or modify any such direction, whether made by order or
    28  final judgment, or in case no such direction shall have been made in the
    29  final judgment may, with respect to any judgment of annulment or declar-
    30  ing the nullity of a void marriage rendered on or after September first,
    31  nineteen hundred forty, or any judgment of separation or divorce whenev-
    32  er rendered, amend the judgment by inserting such direction.  Subject to
    33  the provisions of section two hundred forty-four  of  this  article,  no
    34  such  modification  or  annulment  shall reduce or annul arrears accrued
    35  prior to the making of such  application  unless  the  defaulting  party
    36  shows  good  cause  for  failure to make application for relief from the
    37  judgment or order directing such payment prior to the  accrual  of  such
    38  arrears. Such modification may increase such child support nunc pro tunc
    39  as  of  the date of application based on newly discovered evidence.  Any
    40  retroactive amount of child support due shall  be  support  arrears/past
    41  due  support  and shall be paid in one lump sum or periodic sums, as the
    42  court shall direct, taking into account any amount  of  temporary  child
    43  support which has been paid. In addition, such retroactive child support
    44  shall  be  enforceable  in any manner provided by law including, but not
    45  limited to, an execution for support enforcement pursuant to subdivision
    46  (b) of section fifty-two hundred forty-one of the civil practice law and
    47  rules.
    48    § 47. Subdivision (b) of section 244-b of the domestic relations  law,
    49  as  added  by  chapter  398  of  the laws of 1997, is amended to read as
    50  follows:
    51    (b) If the respondent, after receiving appropriate  notice,  fails  to
    52  comply  with  a  summons,  subpoena or warrant relating to a [paternity]
    53  parentage proceeding under article five of the family court act or child
    54  support proceeding, the court may order the department of motor vehicles
    55  to suspend the respondent's driving privileges.  The  court  may  subse-
    56  quently  order the department of motor vehicles to terminate the suspen-

        A. 8382                            18
 
     1  sion of the respondent's driving privileges; however,  the  court  shall
     2  order  the  termination  of  such suspension when the court is satisfied
     3  that the respondent has fully complied with all summonses, subpoenas and
     4  warrants  relating  to  a [paternity] parentage proceeding under article
     5  five of the family court act or child support proceeding.
     6    § 48. Subdivision (b) of section 244-c of the domestic relations  law,
     7  as  added  by  chapter  398  of  the laws of 1997, is amended to read as
     8  follows:
     9    (b) If the respondent, after receiving appropriate  notice,  fails  to
    10  comply  with  a  summons,  subpoena or warrant relating to a [paternity]
    11  parentage proceeding under article five of the family court act or child
    12  support proceeding, and the court has determined that the respondent  is
    13  licensed,  permitted  or  registered  by  or  with  a board, department,
    14  authority or office of this state or one of its  political  subdivisions
    15  or instrumentalities to conduct a trade, business, profession or occupa-
    16  tion, the court may order such board, department, authority or office to
    17  commence proceedings as required by law regarding the suspension of such
    18  license, permit, registration or authority to practice and to inform the
    19  court of the actions it has taken pursuant to such proceeding. The court
    20  may  subsequently  order  such board, department, authority or office to
    21  terminate the suspension of the respondent's license, permit,  registra-
    22  tion or authority to practice; however, the court shall order the termi-
    23  nation  of such suspension when the court is satisfied that the respond-
    24  ent has fully complied with all summons, subpoenas and warrants relating
    25  to a [paternity] parentage proceeding under article five of  the  family
    26  court act or child support proceeding.
    27    §  49. Subdivision (b) of section 244-d of the domestic relations law,
    28  as added by chapter 398 of the laws of  1997,  is  amended  to  read  as
    29  follows:
    30    (b)  If  the  respondent, after receiving appropriate notice, fails to
    31  comply with a summons, subpoena, or warrant relating  to  a  [paternity]
    32  parentage proceeding under article five of the family court act or child
    33  support  proceeding,  the court may order any agency responsible for the
    34  issuance of a recreational license to suspend or to refuse to reissue  a
    35  license to the respondent or to deny application for such license by the
    36  respondent.  The  court  may subsequently order such agency to terminate
    37  the adverse action regarding  the  respondent's  license;  however,  the
    38  court  shall  order  the termination of such suspension or other adverse
    39  action when the  court  is  satisfied  that  the  respondent  has  fully
    40  complied  with  the requirements of all summons, subpoenas, and warrants
    41  relating to a [paternity] parentage proceeding under article five of the
    42  family court act or child support proceeding.
    43    § 50. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 6 of section 256 of  the  executive
    44  law,  as  amended by chapter 601 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read
    45  as follows:
    46    (a) Each probation agency or department and state  operated  probation
    47  services  shall  provide  for  intake,  investigation,  supervision  and
    48  conciliation services relating to custody,  visitation  and  [paternity]
    49  parentage  proceedings  and  may  provide  for  such services in support
    50  proceedings under the provisions of articles four, five, five-A and  six
    51  of  the  family  court  act.  For  purposes  of this subdivision, intake
    52  services: (i) relating to support proceedings  under  article  four  and
    53  relating  to  [paternity]  parentage proceedings under articles five and
    54  five-A of the family court act, shall include referral to the office  of
    55  temporary  and disability assistance's child support enforcement unit in
    56  cases where a person is applying for or receiving public  assistance  or

        A. 8382                            19
 
     1  where a person chooses to utilize the services of such unit; (ii) relat-
     2  ing  to  support proceedings under article four of the family court act,
     3  shall include services rendered to the payors of support orders  seeking
     4  to modify such orders.
     5    § 51. Paragraphs a and g of subdivision 2-a of section 90 of the judi-
     6  ciary law, as amended by chapter 398 of the laws of 1997, are amended to
     7  read as follows:
     8    a.  The  provisions of this subdivision shall apply in all cases of an
     9  attorney licensed, registered or admitted to practice in this state  who
    10  has failed after receiving appropriate notice, to comply with a summons,
    11  subpoena or warrant relating to a [paternity] parentage proceeding under
    12  article five of the family court act or child support proceeding involv-
    13  ing  [him  or  her]  the  attorney  personally,  or who is in arrears in
    14  payment of child support or combined child  and  spousal  support  which
    15  matter  shall  be  referred  to  the appropriate appellate division by a
    16  court pursuant to the requirements of section two  hundred  forty-four-c
    17  of  the  domestic  relations  law  or  pursuant  to section four hundred
    18  fifty-eight-b or five hundred forty-eight-b of the family court act.
    19    g. This subdivision two-a applies to [paternity] parentage  and  child
    20  support proceedings commenced under, and support obligations paid pursu-
    21  ant  to  any  order of child support or child and spousal support issued
    22  under provisions of section two hundred thirty-six or two hundred  forty
    23  of  the  domestic relations law, or article four, five, five-A or five-B
    24  of the family court act.
    25    § 52. The section heading and subdivision 1 of section  110-a  of  the
    26  social  services law, the section heading as added by chapter 773 of the
    27  laws of 1974 and subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 456 of the laws  of
    28  1978, are amended to read as follows:
    29    Special  provisions  for  legal services to enforce support to recover
    30  costs of public assistance and care and to establish [paternity] parent-
    31  age.  1.  Any inconsistent provision of law notwithstanding, the  appro-
    32  priating  body  of  a  social  services  district may authorize and make
    33  provision for the social  services  commissioner  of  such  district  to
    34  obtain:    (a)  necessary  legal  services on a fee for service basis or
    35  other appropriate basis which the  department  may  approve,  to  obtain
    36  support  from spouses and parents, to recover costs of public assistance
    37  and care granted, to establish [paternity] parentage,  and  to  initiate
    38  and  prosecute  proceedings  for  the commitment of the guardianship and
    39  custody of destitute  or  dependent  children  to  authorized  agencies,
    40  pursuant  to  the  provisions of this chapter and the domestic relations
    41  law, the family court act and other laws, and (b) necessary services  of
    42  private  investigators,  licensed  pursuant  to  section  seventy of the
    43  general business law, on a fee for service or  other  appropriate  basis
    44  which the department may approve, to provide investigative assistance in
    45  efforts  of the district to locate absent parents [and fathers] of chil-
    46  dren born out of wedlock.
    47    § 53. The title heading of title  6-A  of  article  3  of  the  social
    48  services law, as added by chapter 685 of the laws of 1975, is amended to
    49  read as follows:
    50           ESTABLISHMENT OF [PATERNITY] PARENTAGE AND ENFORCEMENT
    51                                 OF SUPPORT
    52    §  54.  Subdivisions  1,  2-a  and  subparagraph 1 of paragraph (d) of
    53  subdivision 4-a of section 111-b of the social services law, subdivision
    54  1 as added by chapter 685 of  the  laws  of  1975,  subdivision  2-a  as
    55  amended  by  chapter 815 of the laws of 1987 and subparagraph 1 of para-

        A. 8382                            20
 
     1  graph (d) of subdivision 4-a as added by chapter  398  of  the  laws  of
     2  1997, are amended to read as follows:
     3    1.  The  single  organizational  unit  within  the department shall be
     4  responsible for the supervision of the activities  of  state  and  local
     5  officials relating to establishment of [paternity] parentage of children
     6  born  [out-of-wedlock]  out  of  wedlock, location of absent parents and
     7  enforcement of support obligations of legally responsible  relatives  to
     8  contribute for the support of their dependents.
     9    2-a.  The department shall prepare a notice which shall be distributed
    10  by social services officials to persons who may be  required  to  assign
    11  support  rights  which  notice  shall explain the rights and obligations
    12  that may result from the establishment of [paternity] parentage and  the
    13  right  of  the  assignor to be kept informed, upon request, of the time,
    14  date and place of any proceedings involving the assignor and such  other
    15  information  as  the  department believes is pertinent. The notice shall
    16  state that the attorney initiating the proceeding represents the depart-
    17  ment.
    18    (1) information on administrative actions and administrative and judi-
    19  cial proceedings  and  orders  relating  to  [paternity]  parentage  and
    20  support;
    21    §  55.  Paragraph  g  of  subdivision 2 of section 111-c of the social
    22  services law, as amended by section 18 of part L of chapter  56  of  the
    23  laws of 2020, is amended to read as follows:
    24    g. obtain from respondent, when appropriate and in accordance with the
    25  procedures established by section one hundred eleven-k of this [chapter]
    26  title,  an  acknowledgement of parentage or an agreement to make support
    27  payments, or both;
    28    § 56. Subdivision 1 of section 111-d of the social  services  law,  as
    29  amended  by  chapter  502  of  the  laws  of 1990, is amended to read as
    30  follows:
    31    1. The provisions of section one hundred fifty-three of  this  chapter
    32  shall  be  applicable  to  expenditures by social services districts for
    33  activities related to the  establishment  of  [paternity]  parentage  of
    34  children born [out-of-wedlock] out of wedlock, the location of deserting
    35  parents  and  the enforcement and collection of support obligations owed
    36  to recipients  of  aid  to  dependent  children  and  persons  receiving
    37  services pursuant to section one hundred eleven-g of this title.
    38    §  57.  The  section heading and subdivision 1 of section 111-g of the
    39  social services law, as amended by section 1 of part Z of chapter 57  of
    40  the laws of 2008, are amended to read as follows:
    41    Availability  of  [paternity]  parentage  and support services. 1. The
    42  office of temporary and disability assistance and  the  social  services
    43  districts, in accordance with the regulations of the office of temporary
    44  and  disability  assistance,  shall make services relating to the estab-
    45  lishment of [paternity] parentage and the establishment and  enforcement
    46  of support obligations available to persons not receiving family assist-
    47  ance  upon  application  by such persons. Such persons must apply by (i)
    48  completing and signing a form as prescribed by the office  of  temporary
    49  and  disability  assistance, or (ii) filing a petition with the court or
    50  applying to the court in a proceeding for the establishment of [paterni-
    51  ty] parentage and/or establishment and/or enforcement of a support obli-
    52  gation, which includes a  statement  signed  by  the  person  requesting
    53  services  clearly  indicating  that  such  person  is applying for child
    54  support enforcement services pursuant to this title.
    55    § 58. Section 111-p of the social services law, as  added  by  chapter
    56  398 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:

        A. 8382                            21
 
     1    §  111-p.  Authority  to  issue subpoenas. The department or the child
     2  support enforcement unit coordinator or support collection unit supervi-
     3  sor of a social services district, or  [his  or  her]  the  department's
     4  designee,  or  another state's child support enforcement agency governed
     5  by  title  IV-D of the social security act, shall be authorized, whether
     6  or not a proceeding is currently pending, to subpoena from  any  person,
     7  public or private entity or governmental agency, and such person, entity
     8  or  agency  shall  provide  any financial or other information needed to
     9  establish [paternity] parentage and to establish, modify or enforce  any
    10  support order.  If a subpoena is served when a petition is not currently
    11  pending,  the  supreme court or a judge of the family court may hear and
    12  decide all motions relating to the subpoena. If the subpoena  is  served
    13  after  a  petition  has  been served, the court in which the petition is
    14  returnable shall hear and decide all motions relating to  the  subpoena.
    15  Any such person, entity, or agency shall provide the subpoenaed informa-
    16  tion  by  the date as specified in the subpoena.  Such subpoena shall be
    17  subject to the provisions of article twenty-three of the civil  practice
    18  law and rules. The department or district may impose a penalty for fail-
    19  ure  to  respond to such information subpoenas pursuant to section twen-
    20  ty-three hundred eight of the civil practice law and rules.
    21    § 59. Section 111-r of the social services law, as  added  by  chapter
    22  398 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
    23    §  111-r.  Requirement  to  respond to requests for information.   All
    24  employers, as defined in section one hundred eleven-m of this  [article]
    25  title (including for-profit, not-for-profit and governmental employers),
    26  are  required to provide information promptly on the employment, compen-
    27  sation and benefits of any individual employed by such  employer  as  an
    28  employee  or  contractor,  when  the  department  or  a  social services
    29  district or its authorized  representative,  or  another  state's  child
    30  support enforcement agency governed by title IV-D of the social security
    31  act, requests such information for the purpose of establishing [paterni-
    32  ty]  parentage,  or  establishing,  modifying  or  enforcing an order of
    33  support.  To the extent feasible, such information  shall  be  requested
    34  and  provided  using  automated  systems,  and shall include, but is not
    35  limited to, information regarding the individual's last  known  address,
    36  date  of  birth,  social security number, plans providing health care or
    37  other medical benefits by insurance or otherwise, wages, salaries, earn-
    38  ings or other income of such  individual.    Notwithstanding  any  other
    39  provision  of  law  to  the contrary, such officials are not required to
    40  obtain an order from any judicial or administrative tribunal in order to
    41  request or receive such information.  The department shall be authorized
    42  to impose a penalty for failure to respond  to  such  requests  of  five
    43  hundred dollars for an initial failure and seven hundred dollars for the
    44  second and subsequent failure.
    45    §  60.  The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 111-s of the
    46  social services law, as added by chapter 398 of the  laws  of  1997,  is
    47  amended to read as follows:
    48    For  the  purpose of establishing [paternity] parentage, or establish-
    49  ing, modifying or enforcing an order of support,  the  department  or  a
    50  social  services  district  or  its authorized representative, and child
    51  support enforcement agencies of other  states  established  pursuant  to
    52  title  IV-D of the social security act, without the necessity of obtain-
    53  ing an order from any other  judicial  or  administrative  tribunal  and
    54  subject  to  safeguards  on privacy and information security, shall have
    55  access to information contained in the following records:

        A. 8382                            22
 
     1    § 61. Subparagraph 1 of paragraph (a)  of  subdivision  2  of  section
     2  111-v of the social services law, as added by chapter 398 of the laws of
     3  1997, is amended to read as follows:
     4    (1)  safeguards  against unauthorized use or disclosure of information
     5  relating to procedures or actions to establish [paternity] parentage  or
     6  to establish or enforce support;
     7    §  62.  Subdivision  16  of section 131 of the social services law, as
     8  added by chapter 214 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:
     9    16. If, in accordance with  section  one  hundred  fifty-eight,  three
    10  hundred  forty-nine-b  or  other  provisions of this chapter, the social
    11  services official determines that an individual is  not  cooperating  in
    12  establishing  [paternity]  parentage  or  in establishing, modifying, or
    13  enforcing a support order with respect to a child of the individual, and
    14  the individual does not have good cause  for  such  failure  or  is  not
    15  otherwise excepted from so cooperating in accordance with regulations of
    16  the  department,  the assistance given to the household shall be reduced
    17  by twenty-five percent.
    18    § 63. Subdivisions 1 and 3 of section 132-a  of  the  social  services
    19  law, as added by chapter 184 of the laws of 1969, are amended to read as
    20  follows:
    21    1. When an investigation is required by section one hundred thirty-two
    22  of  this article and other provisions of this chapter for the purpose of
    23  determining the eligibility for public assistance and care of an  appli-
    24  cant  pregnant  with or who is the [mother] gestational parent of an out
    25  of wedlock child such investigation shall include diligent inquiry  into
    26  the [paternity] parentage of such child.
    27    3.  In  appropriate  cases, such applicant shall be required to file a
    28  petition in the family court instituting proceedings  to  determine  the
    29  [paternity] parentage of [her] the child, and [she] such parent shall be
    30  required  to  assist  and  cooperate  in  establishing  such [paternity]
    31  parentage. However, such a petition shall not be required to be filed if
    32  the child has been surrendered  to  the  social  services  official  for
    33  adoption  or if such surrender is under consideration in accordance with
    34  the provisions of section one hundred thirty-two of this article.
    35    § 64. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1  and  subdivision  2  of  section
    36  349-b  of  the  social  services  law, paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 as
    37  amended by chapter 398 of the laws of 1997 and subdivision 2 as added by
    38  chapter 685 of the laws of 1975, are amended to read as follows:
    39    (b) to cooperate with the state and the social services  official,  in
    40  accordance  with  standards established by regulations of the department
    41  consistent with federal law, in establishing the  [paternity]  parentage
    42  of  a  child  born  [out-of-wedlock]  out of wedlock for whom assistance
    43  under this title is being applied for or received, in their  efforts  to
    44  locate  any absent parent and in obtaining support payments or any other
    45  payments or property due such person and due each child for whom assist-
    46  ance under this title is being applied for or received, except  that  an
    47  applicant  or  recipient  shall  not  be  required  to cooperate in such
    48  efforts in cases in which the social services official  has  determined,
    49  in  accordance with criteria, including the best interests of the child,
    50  as established by regulations of the department consistent with  federal
    51  law,  that such applicant or recipient has good cause to refuse to coop-
    52  erate. Each social service district  shall  inform  applicants  for  and
    53  recipients of family assistance required to cooperate with the state and
    54  local social services officials pursuant to the provisions of this para-
    55  graph,  that  where  a proceeding to establish [paternity] parentage has
    56  been filed, and the allegation of [paternity] parentage has been  denied

        A. 8382                            23
 
     1  by the respondent, that there shall be a stay of all [paternity] parent-
     2  age  proceedings  and  related  local  social services proceedings until
     3  sixty days after the birth of the child.  Such applicants and recipients
     4  shall  also  be  informed  that  public assistance and care shall not be
     5  denied during the stay on the basis of refusal to cooperate pursuant  to
     6  the provisions of this paragraph.
     7    2.  The  amount  of the payments due from the absent parent in meeting
     8  [his] such parent's support obligations under this section shall be  the
     9  amount  of  a  current court support order or, in the absence of a court
    10  order, if such parent agrees to meet [his] the  parent's  support  obli-
    11  gation,  an amount to be determined in accordance with a support formula
    12  established by the department and  approved  by  the  secretary  of  the
    13  federal   department  of  health[,  education  and  welfare]  and  human
    14  services.
    15    § 65. Paragraphs (a), (d), (e) and (f) of  subdivision  1  of  section
    16  352-a  of  the social services law, paragraphs (a), (d) and (e) as added
    17  by chapter 187 of the laws of 1969 and paragraph (f) as amended by chap-
    18  ter 685 of the laws of 1975, are amended to read as follows:
    19    (a)  to ascertain who may be the  [putative  father]  parent  of  such
    20  child  born  out of wedlock, and take appropriate steps to establish the
    21  [paternity] parentage thereof in accordance with  applicable  provisions
    22  of law;
    23    (d)    to  establish  cooperative  arrangements with the family court,
    24  county attorneys, corporation counsels and other law  enforcement  offi-
    25  cials,  for  the  establishment of [paternity] parentage and location of
    26  missing parents of such children and for the enforcement of their  obli-
    27  gations  to  support  or  contribute  to support of such children to the
    28  extent of their ability;
    29    (e)  to provide pertinent information to such court and  law  enforce-
    30  ment  officials  to enable them to assist in locating [putative fathers]
    31  alleged and deserting parents of such children, in establishing  [pater-
    32  nity]  parentage  and  in  securing support payments therefrom, provided
    33  that there is an agreement between such  social  services  official  and
    34  such  court and such law enforcement officials insuring that such infor-
    35  mation will be used only for the purpose intended;
    36    (f)  to reimburse, to the extent that state and  federal  requirements
    37  authorize  or  require, appropriate courts and law enforcement officials
    38  for activities related to the requirements of this chapter and the fami-
    39  ly court act with respect to establishment of [paternity] parentage  and
    40  for services they have undertaken on behalf of such official.
    41    §  66. Subparagraph 3 of paragraph (d) of subdivision 1 of section 366
    42  of the social services law, as amended by section 2 of part CCC of chap-
    43  ter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows:
    44    (3) cooperates with the appropriate social services  official  or  the
    45  department  in  establishing  [paternity]  parentage or in establishing,
    46  modifying, or enforcing a support order with respect to [his or her] the
    47  child;  provided,  however,  that  nothing  herein  contained  shall  be
    48  construed  to  require  a payment under this title for care or services,
    49  the cost of which may be met in whole or  in  part  by  a  third  party;
    50  notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  a  social  services official shall not
    51  require such cooperation if the social services official or the  depart-
    52  ment  determines  that  such  actions  would  be detrimental to the best
    53  interest of the child, applicant, or recipient, or with respect to preg-
    54  nant women during pregnancy and during the one year period beginning  on
    55  the  last  day  of pregnancy, in accordance with procedures and criteria

        A. 8382                            24
 
     1  established by regulations of the  department  consistent  with  federal
     2  law; and
     3    §  67.  Subdivisions  1,  2,  3  and  4 of section 372-c of the social
     4  services law, subdivisions 1 and 2 as amended by section 20 of part L of
     5  chapter 56 of the laws of 2020 and subdivisions 3  and  4  as  added  by
     6  chapter 665 of the laws of 1976, are amended to read as follows:
     7    1.  The  department  shall  establish a putative father registry which
     8  shall record the names and addresses of:  (a) any person adjudicated  by
     9  a  court  of this state to be the parent of a child born out of wedlock;
    10  (b) any person who has filed with the registry before or after the birth
    11  of a child out of wedlock, a notice of intent to claim parentage of  the
    12  child;  (c) any person adjudicated by a court of another state or terri-
    13  tory of the United States to be the father of an out of  wedlock  child,
    14  where a certified copy of the court order has been filed with the regis-
    15  try  by  such  person  or any other person; (d) any person who has filed
    16  with the registry  an  instrument  acknowledging  [paternity]  parentage
    17  pursuant  to  section  4-1.2  of  the  estates, powers and trusts law or
    18  section forty-one hundred thirty-five-b of the public health law.
    19    2. A person filing a notice of intent to claim parentage of a child or
    20  an acknowledgement of [paternity] parentage shall include therein  [his]
    21  such  person's  current  address  and  shall  notify the registry of any
    22  change of address pursuant to procedures prescribed  by  regulations  of
    23  the department.
    24    3.  A  person  who  has  filed a notice of intent to claim [paternity]
    25  parentage may at any time revoke a notice of intent to claim [paternity]
    26  parentage previously filed therewith and, upon receipt of such notifica-
    27  tion by the registry, the revoked notice of intent to claim  [paternity]
    28  parentage shall be deemed a nullity nunc pro tunc.
    29    4.  An  unrevoked notice of intent to claim [paternity] parentage of a
    30  child may be introduced in evidence by any party, other than the  person
    31  who filed such notice, in any proceeding in which such fact may be rele-
    32  vant.
    33    §  68.  Subdivision 4 of section 3-503 of the general obligations law,
    34  as amended by chapter 398 of the laws of 1997, is  amended  to  read  as
    35  follows:
    36    4.    Every  application shall state in bold face that persons who are
    37  four months or more in arrears in child support or who  have  failed  to
    38  comply  with  a  summons,  subpoena or warrant relating to a [paternity]
    39  parentage proceeding under article five of the family court act or child
    40  support proceeding may be  subject  to  suspension  of  their  business,
    41  professional,  drivers  and/or recreational licenses and permits includ-
    42  ing, but not limited to, licences issued pursuant to section 11-0713  of
    43  the environmental conservation law.
    44    § 69. The subdivision heading of subdivision 4-e of section 510 of the
    45  vehicle  and traffic law, as amended by chapter 601 of the laws of 2007,
    46  is amended to read as follows:
    47    4-e. Suspension and disqualification for failure to make child support
    48  payments or failure to comply with a summons, subpoena or warrant relat-
    49  ing to a [paternity] parentage proceeding  under  article  five  of  the
    50  family court act or child support proceeding.
    51    §  70.  Paragraphs  (a) and (d) of subdivision 4 of section 119 of the
    52  alcoholic beverage control law, paragraph (a) as amended  and  paragraph
    53  (d)  as added by chapter 398 of the laws of 1997, are amended to read as
    54  follows:
    55    (a) The provisions of this subdivision shall apply  in  all  cases  of
    56  licensee  or  permittee  failure  after receiving appropriate notice, to

        A. 8382                            25
 
     1  comply with a summons, subpoena or warrant  relating  to  a  [paternity]
     2  parentage proceeding under article five of the family court act or child
     3  support  proceeding  and arrears in payment of child support or combined
     4  child  and spousal support referred to the authority by a court pursuant
     5  to the requirements of section two hundred forty-four-c of the  domestic
     6  relations  law or pursuant to section four hundred fifty-eight-b or five
     7  hundred forty-eight-b of the family court act.
     8    (d) Upon receipt of an order from the court based on failure to comply
     9  with a summons, subpoena, or warrant relating to a [paternity] parentage
    10  proceeding under article five of the family court act or  child  support
    11  proceeding,  the  authority,  if  it finds such person has been issued a
    12  license or permit, shall within thirty days of  receipt  of  such  order
    13  from the court, provide notice to the licensee or permittee that [his or
    14  her]  the licencee's license shall be suspended in sixty days unless the
    15  conditions in paragraph (e) of this subdivision are met.
    16    § 71. The section heading and subdivisions 1 and 5 of  section  6509-c
    17  of  the  education law, as added by chapter 398 of the laws of 1997, are
    18  amended to read as follows:
    19    Additional definition of professional misconduct; failure to comply in
    20  [paternity] parentage or child support proceedings; limited application.
    21  1. The provisions of this section shall apply in all cases  of  licensee
    22  or registrant failure after receiving appropriate notice, to comply with
    23  a  summons,  subpoena  or warrant relating to a [paternity] parentage or
    24  child support proceeding referred to the board of  regents  by  a  court
    25  pursuant  to the requirements of section two hundred forty-four-c of the
    26  domestic relations law or pursuant to section four hundred fifty-eight-b
    27  or five hundred forty-eight-b of the family court act.
    28    5. This section applies to  [paternity]  parentage  or  child  support
    29  proceedings  commenced  under,  and support obligations paid pursuant to
    30  any order of child support or child and  spousal  support  issued  under
    31  provisions of section two hundred thirty-six or two hundred forty of the
    32  domestic  relations  law, or article four, five, five-A or five-B of the
    33  family court act.
    34    § 72. This act shall take effect on the first day of November after it
    35  shall have become a law; provided, however, that:
    36    (a) the amendments to subdivision (a) of section  439  of  the  family
    37  court act made by section five of this act shall be subject to the expi-
    38  ration  and  reversion of such subdivision pursuant to subdivision 19 of
    39  section 246 of chapter 81 of the laws of 1995 as amended, when upon such
    40  date the provisions of section five-a of this act shall take effect; and
    41    (b) the amendments to subdivision 4-e of section 510  of  the  vehicle
    42  and  traffic  law  made  by section two of this act shall not affect the
    43  repeal of such subdivision and shall be deemed repealed therewith.
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