Relates to coercive control; provides that the family court and the criminal courts shall have concurrent jurisdiction over acts which constitute coercive control; provides that courts may issue orders of protection upon a finding of coercive control; directs the office of court administration, in consultation with the office for the prevention of domestic violence and certain organizations, to develop and administer training for judges and court clerks on coercive control.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9551--A
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, SHIMSKY, OTIS, SLATER -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Judiciary -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
AN ACT to amend the family court act, the criminal procedure law, the
judiciary law and the domestic relations law, in relation to coercive
control
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 812 of
2 the family court act, as amended by chapter 541 of the laws of 2024, is
3 amended to read as follows:
4 The family court and the criminal courts shall have concurrent juris-
5 diction over any proceeding concerning acts which would constitute coer-
6 cive control as defined by section eight hundred nineteen of this part,
7 disorderly conduct, unlawful dissemination or publication of an intimate
8 image, harassment in the first degree, harassment in the second degree,
9 aggravated harassment in the second degree, sexual misconduct, forcible
10 touching, sexual abuse in the third degree, sexual abuse in the second
11 degree as set forth in subdivision one of section 130.60 of the penal
12 law, stalking in the first degree, stalking in the second degree, stalk-
13 ing in the third degree, stalking in the fourth degree, criminal
14 mischief, menacing in the second degree, menacing in the third degree,
15 reckless endangerment, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circu-
16 lation, strangulation in the second degree, strangulation in the first
17 degree, assault in the second degree, assault in the third degree, an
18 attempted assault, identity theft in the first degree, identity theft in
19 the second degree, identity theft in the third degree, grand larceny in
20 the fourth degree, grand larceny in the third degree, coercion in the
21 second degree or coercion in the third degree as set forth in subdivi-
22 sions one, two and three of section 135.60 of the penal law between
23 spouses or former spouses, or between parent and child or between
24 members of the same family or household except that if the respondent
25 would not be criminally responsible by reason of age pursuant to section
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13778-05-6
A. 9551--A 2
1 30.00 of the penal law, then the family court shall have exclusive
2 jurisdiction over such proceeding. Notwithstanding a complainant's
3 election to proceed in family court, the criminal court shall not be
4 divested of jurisdiction to hear a family offense proceeding pursuant to
5 this section. In any proceeding pursuant to this article, a court shall
6 not deny an order of protection, or dismiss a petition, solely on the
7 basis that the acts or events alleged are not relatively contemporaneous
8 with the date of the petition, the conclusion of the fact-finding or the
9 conclusion of the dispositional hearing. For purposes of this article,
10 "disorderly conduct" includes disorderly conduct not in a public place.
11 For purposes of this article, "members of the same family or household"
12 shall mean the following:
13 § 2. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 530.11 of the
14 criminal procedure law, as amended by chapter 541 of the laws of 2024,
15 is amended to read as follows:
16 The family court and the criminal courts shall have concurrent juris-
17 diction over any proceeding concerning acts which would constitute coer-
18 cive control as defined by section eight hundred nineteen of the family
19 court act, disorderly conduct, unlawful dissemination or publication of
20 an intimate image, harassment in the first degree, harassment in the
21 second degree, aggravated harassment in the second degree, sexual
22 misconduct, forcible touching, sexual abuse in the third degree, sexual
23 abuse in the second degree as set forth in subdivision one of section
24 130.60 of the penal law, stalking in the first degree, stalking in the
25 second degree, stalking in the third degree, stalking in the fourth
26 degree, criminal mischief, menacing in the second degree, menacing in
27 the third degree, reckless endangerment, strangulation in the first
28 degree, strangulation in the second degree, criminal obstruction of
29 breathing or blood circulation, assault in the second degree, assault in
30 the third degree, an attempted assault, identity theft in the first
31 degree, identity theft in the second degree, identity theft in the third
32 degree, grand larceny in the fourth degree, grand larceny in the third
33 degree, coercion in the second degree or coercion in the third degree as
34 set forth in subdivisions one, two and three of section 135.60 of the
35 penal law between spouses or former spouses, or between parent and child
36 or between members of the same family or household except that if the
37 respondent would not be criminally responsible by reason of age pursuant
38 to section 30.00 of the penal law, then the family court shall have
39 exclusive jurisdiction over such proceeding. Notwithstanding a
40 complainant's election to proceed in family court, the criminal court
41 shall not be divested of jurisdiction to hear a family offense proceed-
42 ing pursuant to this section. For purposes of this section, "disorderly
43 conduct" includes disorderly conduct not in a public place. For
44 purposes of this section, "members of the same family or household" with
45 respect to a proceeding in the criminal courts shall mean the following:
46 § 3. Section 154-c of the family court act is amended by adding a new
47 subdivision 4 to read as follows:
48 4. Coercive control. The court may issue an order of protection upon a
49 finding of coercive control, as defined by section eight hundred nine-
50 teen of this act, based on a preponderance of the evidence. The court
51 shall update any forms used for the purpose of requesting an order of
52 protection to include coercive control as a basis for an order of
53 protection. Continued coercive control engaged in after the issuance of
54 an order of protection may serve as evidence supporting a finding of
55 contempt in accordance with the penal law.
A. 9551--A 3
1 § 4. The judiciary law is amended by adding a new section 39-c to read
2 as follows:
3 § 39-c. Coercive control training. 1. For the purposes of this
4 section, "coercive control" shall have the same meaning as such term is
5 defined by section eight hundred nineteen of the family court act.
6 2. (a) The office of court administration, in consultation with the
7 office for the prevention of domestic violence and the organization
8 designated by the federal department of health and human services to
9 coordinate statewide improvements in the prevention of domestic
10 violence, shall develop and administer mandatory training for judges,
11 court clerks, and other court staff as deemed appropriate by the office,
12 on coercive control.
13 (b) Such training shall cover:
14 (i) the statutory definition of coercive control;
15 (ii) patterns of conduct;
16 (iii) evidentiary considerations;
17 (iv) application in order of protection proceedings;
18 (v) survivor safety; and
19 (vi) the impact on children and implications for custody and visita-
20 tion.
21 (c) Judges and relevant court personnel shall be required to partic-
22 ipate in refresher training at least once every two years.
23 (d) The office of court administration shall be authorized to prepare
24 bench cards, guidance, and forms to support the implementation of such
25 training.
26 § 5. The domestic relations law is amended by adding a new section 256
27 to read as follows:
28 § 256. Coercive control. 1. For the purposes of this section, "coer-
29 cive control" shall have the same meaning as such term is defined by
30 section eight hundred nineteen of the family court act.
31 2. The court may issue an order of protection upon a finding of coer-
32 cive control, based on a preponderance of the evidence. The court shall
33 update any forms used for the purpose of requesting an order of
34 protection to include coercive control as a basis for an order of
35 protection.
36 3. The order of protection may protect the petitioner and any minor
37 child of the marriage or a minor child residing in such petitioner's
38 household.
39 § 6. Section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law is amended by adding a
40 new subdivision 46 to read as follows:
41 46. "Coercive control" means coercive control defined by section eight
42 hundred nineteen of the family court act.
43 § 7. The family court act is amended by adding a new section 819 to
44 read as follows:
45 § 819. Coercive control. 1. As used in this chapter, the term "coer-
46 cive control" shall mean a pattern of behavior used to dominate, intim-
47 idate, or subordinate another person that, in purpose or effect, unrea-
48 sonably interferes with that person's free will, personal liberty, or
49 autonomy or causes such person to fear for their safety or the safety of
50 another. Coercive control shall include, but shall not be limited to:
51 (a) isolating the person from friends, relatives, or other sources of
52 support;
53 (b) controlling, monitoring, or restricting movements, communications,
54 or access to services;
55 (c) regulating or monitoring economic resources, controlling access to
56 money, employment, or credit;
A. 9551--A 4
1 (d) restricting or interfering with access to housing, transportation,
2 health care, or employment;
3 (e) threatening, intimidating, or harassing conduct designed to
4 instill fear or compliance;
5 (f) monitoring, controlling, or misusing digital devices, accounts, or
6 online activity;
7 (g) misusing legal or administrative processes to harass or intim-
8 idate, including but not limited to initiating or maintaining repeated
9 actions or proceedings that a court has found not to be warranted by
10 existing law or a good faith argument for the extension, modification,
11 or reversal of existing law; and
12 (h) repeated verbal degradation, humiliation, or intimidation.
13 2. Coercive control shall not include reasonable actions taken by an
14 individual to protect their own or their children's safety, welfare, or
15 care, or the reasonable exercise of lawful authority.
16 § 8. The opening paragraph of paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of
17 section 240 of the domestic relations law, as amended by chapter 567 of
18 the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
19 In any action or proceeding brought (1) to annul a marriage or to
20 declare the nullity of a void marriage, or (2) for a separation, or (3)
21 for a divorce, or (4) to obtain, by a writ of habeas corpus or by peti-
22 tion and order to show cause, the custody of or right to visitation with
23 any child of a marriage, the court shall require verification of the
24 status of any child of the marriage with respect to such child's custody
25 and support, including any prior orders, and shall enter orders for
26 custody and support as, in the court's discretion, justice requires,
27 having regard to the circumstances of the case and of the respective
28 parties and to the best interests of the child and subject to the
29 provisions of subdivision one-c of this section. Where either party to
30 an action concerning custody of or a right to visitation with a child
31 alleges in a sworn petition or complaint or sworn answer, cross-peti-
32 tion, counterclaim or other sworn responsive pleading that the other
33 party has committed an act of domestic violence or coercive control, as
34 defined by section eight hundred nineteen of the family court act,
35 against the party making the allegation or a family or household member
36 of either party, as such family or household member is defined in arti-
37 cle eight of the family court act, and such allegations are proven by a
38 preponderance of the evidence, the court must consider the effect of
39 such domestic violence or coercive control upon the best interests of
40 the child, together with such other facts and circumstances as the court
41 deems relevant in making a direction pursuant to this section and state
42 on the record how such findings, facts and circumstances factored into
43 the direction. If a parent makes a good faith allegation based on a
44 reasonable belief supported by facts that the child is the victim of
45 child abuse, child neglect, or the effects of domestic violence, and if
46 that parent acts lawfully and in good faith in response to that reason-
47 able belief to protect the child or seek treatment for the child, then
48 that parent shall not be deprived of custody, visitation or contact with
49 the child, or restricted in custody, visitation or contact, based solely
50 on that belief or the reasonable actions taken based on that belief. If
51 an allegation that a child is abused is supported by a preponderance of
52 the evidence, then the court shall consider such evidence of abuse in
53 determining the visitation arrangement that is in the best interest of
54 the child, and the court shall not place a child in the custody of a
55 parent who presents a substantial risk of harm to that child, and shall
56 state on the record how such findings were factored into the determi-
A. 9551--A 5
1 nation. Where a proceeding filed pursuant to article ten or ten-A of the
2 family court act is pending at the same time as a proceeding brought in
3 the supreme court involving the custody of, or right to visitation with,
4 any child of a marriage, the court presiding over the proceeding under
5 article ten or ten-A of the family court act may jointly hear the dispo-
6 sitional hearing on the petition under article ten or the permanency
7 hearing under article ten-A of the family court act and, upon referral
8 from the supreme court, the hearing to resolve the matter of custody or
9 visitation in the proceeding pending in the supreme court; provided
10 however, the court must determine custody or visitation in accordance
11 with the terms of this section.
12 § 9. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
13 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amend-
14 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
15 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
16 completed on or before such date.
