Children & Families | 2026 NYS Legislative Agenda
Protect Children During Custodial Police Interrogations
The City Bar supports legislation establishing additional safeguards for children subjected custodial police interrogations. Youth are uniquely vulnerable to coercion and to providing unreliable or false confessions, and current law does not adequately account for their developmental differences. Proposed reforms would clarify when law enforcement must notify a parent or guardian and require that a child consult with an attorney before waiving Miranda rights. These protections are necessary to ensure that children’s constitutional rights are meaningfully protected.
Adopt a Parental Bill of Rights in Child Protective Services Investigations
The City Bar supports amending the Social Services Law to require child protective services to orally disclose certain information to parents and caretakers who are the subject of a child protective services investigation. The proposed parental bill of rights would ensure families understand their rights while preserving investigators’ authority to act in emergency situations. Providing parents with clear, plain-language information about their rights promotes fairness, reduces unnecessary intrusion, and helps maintain trust in child welfare systems.
Reform and Improve New York Family Court for All Litigants
New York Family Court has long suffered from under-resourcing and structural inequities that impede timely, consistent, and fair adjudication. Serving primarily unrepresented litigants and low-income families, Family Court has been widely recognized as operating as a second-tier justice system.
The City Bar supports reforms to modernize Family Court operations, including expansion of e-filing, improved data transparency, uniform rules, enhanced technology for remote proceedings, increased staffing and judicial resources, and improved management training. Meaningful reform will require sustained commitment and coordination across all branches of government.