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Children & the Law Committee

Overview

The Children and the Law Committee addresses legal issues that impact upon the quality of life for children and families. In furtherance of this mission, the Committee sponsors informational programming at the New York City Bar that highlights child welfare issues, reviews proposed legislation at both the state and federal levels, and discusses and supports innovative initiatives that advance children’s rights. The committee is also dedicated to lending support to other New York City Bar committees whose work impact upon our mission.
Chairs
- Christina Rich
  Email Christina Rich
- Rachel Stanton
  Email Rachel Stanton
Reports
- 2023 New York State Legislative Agenda (February 13, 2023) PDF
  
  Author(s): Council on Judicial Administration Council on Children Sex & Law Committee Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Rights Committee Civil Rights Committee Mental Health Law Committee Women in the Legal Profession Committee Social Welfare Law Committee Government Ethics & State Affairs Committee Election Law Committee Task Force on Civil Right to Counsel Housing Court Committee Antitrust & Trade Regulation Committee Education & the Law Committee Task Force on Mass Incarceration Corrections & Community Reentry Committee Criminal Justice Operations Committee Housing & Urban Development Committee Pro Bono & Legal Services Committee Insurance Law Committee Children & the Law Committee Domestic Violence Committee Criminal Courts Committee Entertainment Law Committee Juvenile Justice Committee Arbitration Committee International Commercial Disputes Committee State Courts of Superior Jurisdiction Committee Litigation Committee Legal Referral Service Committee Small Law Firm Committee - Small Law Firms in NYC Trade Secrets Committee Criminal Justice, Police Reform & Civil Rights Visitor Information
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Renewed Call to Eliminate Competitive Admissions to New York City Middle-Schools (September 19, 2022) PDF
  
  Author(s): Civil Rights Committee Education & the Law Committee Children & the Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Report Supporting Legislation to Promote Humane Education in New York Schools (July 22, 2022) PDF
  
  Author(s): Animal Law Committee Children & the Law Committee Education & the Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Support for the Anti-Harassment in Reporting Bill (May 17, 2022) PDF
  
  Author(s): Children & the Law Committee Council on Children
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Report in Support of the Judith Kaye School Solutions Not Suspensions Act (May 06, 2022) PDF
  
  Author(s): Education & the Law Committee Children & the Law Committee Council on Children Juvenile Justice Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Report in Support of a Parental Bill of Rights in Child Protective Services Investigations (May 04, 2022) PDF
  
  Author(s): Children & the Law Committee Council on Children
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Legislation to Protect Children During Custodial Police Interrogation (April 28, 2022) PDF
  
  Author(s): Juvenile Justice Committee Children & the Law Committee Criminal Justice, Police Reform & Civil Rights
  
  Subject Area(s):
- The Impact of COVID-19 on the New York City Family Court: Recommendations on Improving Access to Justice for All Litigants (February 04, 2022) PDF
  
  Author(s): Council on Children Children & the Law Committee Mental Health Law Committee Pro Bono & Legal Services Committee Visitor Information
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Letter to the Biden Administration Urging Reforms Needed to Safeguard Vulnerable Youth Applying for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) (February 01, 2022) PDF
  
  Author(s): Immigration & Nationality Law Committee Children & the Law Committee Family Court & Family Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Support of Ints. 2405a-2021 and 0148a-2018 to Allow Runaway Homeless Youth and Foster Youth Access to CityFHEPS Rental Assistance (November 23, 2021) PDF
  
  Author(s): Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Rights Committee Social Welfare Law Committee Children & the Law Committee Council on Children
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Support for the Preserving Family Bonds Act (June 08, 2021) PDF
  
  Author(s): Children & the Law Committee Council on Children Family Court & Family Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Amending Question 26 of the New York Bar Application (June 01, 2021) PDF
  
  Author(s): Children & the Law Committee Civil Rights Committee Corrections & Community Reentry Committee Criminal Justice Operations Committee Family Court & Family Law Committee Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Rights Committee Minorities in the Profession Committee Pro Bono & Legal Services Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Support for Budget Provision to Close Four State-Operated Juvenile Placement Facilities (March 25, 2021) PDF
  
  Author(s): Juvenile Justice Committee Children & the Law Committee Council on Children
  
  Subject Area(s):
- The Family Court Judicial Appointment and Assignment Process (December 15, 2020) PDF
  
  Author(s): Children & the Law Committee Council on Children Council on Judicial Administration Family Court & Family Law Committee Juvenile Justice Committee Pro Bono & Legal Services Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Letter in Support of Legislation Requiring Video Recording of Interrogations of Juveniles in Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings in Family Court (November 19, 2020) PDF
  
  Author(s): Juvenile Justice Committee Council on Children Children & the Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Letter to Governor Cuomo in Support of Legislation Intended to Bring Children & Their Incarcerated Parents Closer Together (October 29, 2020) PDF
  
  Author(s): Council on Children Children & the Law Committee Corrections & Community Reentry Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Support for Legislation Addressing Children Aging Out of Foster Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic (September 10, 2020) PDF
  
  Author(s): Family Court & Family Law Committee Children & the Law Committee Council on Children Visitor Information
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Request for COVID-19 Point Person for New York City Family Court (June 12, 2020) PDF
  
  Author(s): Council on Children Children & the Law Committee Family Court & Family Law Committee Visitor Information
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Opposition to DHS Proposed Rule Regarding Special Immigrant Juvenile Petitions: Comments (November 15, 2019) PDF
  
  Author(s): Immigration & Nationality Law Committee Children & the Law Committee Family Court & Family Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Support for Amendments to the Administration of the Statewide Register of Child Abuse (June 21, 2019) PDF
  
  Author(s): Children & the Law Committee Council on Children
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Report on Legislation Related to Child Custody Forensic Reports (June 04, 2019) PDF
  
  Author(s): Children & the Law Committee Matrimonial Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Report on legislation regarding adoption by a petitioner whose parentage is legally-recognized (March 27, 2019) PDF
  
  Author(s): Children & the Law Committee Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Rights Committee Family Court & Family Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Impact on Child Welfare & Youth Justice Services in NYC - 2020 NYS Executive Budget (March 19, 2019) PDF
  
  Author(s): Children & the Law Committee Corrections & Community Reentry Committee Family Court & Family Law Committee Juvenile Justice Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Report in Support of the Child-Parent Security Act - 2020 NYS Executive Budget (March 15, 2019) PDF
  
  Author(s): Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Rights Committee Children & the Law Committee Council on Children Family Court & Family Law Committee Matrimonial Law Committee Sex & Law Committee Health Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Ensuring Right to Counsel For Minors Facing Removal Proceedings: Testimony (December 19, 2018) PDF
  
  Author(s): Children & the Law Committee Council on Children Family Court & Family Law Committee Immigration & Nationality Law Committee Pro Bono & Legal Services Committee Social Welfare Law Committee Task Force on Civil Right to Counsel
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Comments on Proposed DHS Rulemaking re: Flores Settlement (November 06, 2018) PDF
  
  Author(s): Immigration & Nationality Law Committee Children & the Law Committee Council on Children Family Court & Family Law Committee International Human Rights Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Statement Opposing Proposed Changes to Broaden "Public Charge" Rule (October 24, 2018) PDF
  
  Author(s): Social Welfare Law Committee Immigration & Nationality Law Committee Bioethical Issues Committee Civil Rights Committee Council on Children Domestic Violence Committee Family Court & Family Law Committee Federal Courts Committee Health Law Committee Housing Court Committee Housing & Urban Development Committee Labor & Employment Committee Legal Problems of the Aging Committee Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Rights Committee Mental Health Law Committee Pro Bono & Legal Services Committee Sex & Law Committee Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee European Affairs Committee Children & the Law Committee International Human Rights Committee United Nations Committee Disability Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Federal Immigration Enforcement in NYS Courthouses: Recommendations (July 11, 2018) PDF
  
  Author(s): Children & the Law Committee Council on Children Civil Court Committee Criminal Courts Committee Criminal Justice Operations Committee Domestic Violence Committee Family Court & Family Law Committee Immigration & Nationality Law Committee Council on Judicial Administration Juvenile Justice Committee Pro Bono & Legal Services Committee State Courts of Superior Jurisdiction Committee Women in the Courts Task Force
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Criminal Prosecution, Separation, and Detention of Families Seeking Asylum (July 06, 2018) PDF
  
  Author(s): Immigration & Nationality Law Committee Bioethical Issues Committee Children & the Law Committee Council on Children Family Court & Family Law Committee Health Law Committee International Human Rights Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Report in Support of Clarifications to the Definition of "Prospective Relative Guardian" for Purposes of Subsidized Kinship Guardianship Assistance (KinGAP) (June 15, 2017) PDF
  
  Author(s): Children & the Law Committee Family Court & Family Law Committee Social Welfare Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Report in Support of Raising the Age of Criminal Responsibility (March 27, 2017) PDF
  
  Author(s): Children & the Law Committee Council on Children Corrections & Community Reentry Committee Criminal Courts Committee Criminal Justice Operations Committee Criminal Law Committee Family Court & Family Law Committee Criminal Justice, Police Reform & Civil Rights Civil Rights Committee Task Force on Mass Incarceration Juvenile Justice Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Report in Support of the "BRIDGE" Act (Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy Act) (January 30, 2017) PDF
  
  Author(s): Immigration & Nationality Law Committee Family Court & Family Law Committee Council on Children Children & the Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Report on the Pet and Women Safety Act (March 20, 2015) PDF
  
  Author(s): Animal Law Committee Domestic Violence Committee Children & the Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Report on 2015-16 Executive Budget Proposal regarding Raising the Age of Criminal Responsibility (March 12, 2015) PDF
  
  Author(s): Children & the Law Committee Corrections & Community Reentry Committee Criminal Justice Operations Committee Civil Rights Committee Criminal Courts Committee Criminal Law Committee Council on Children Family Court & Family Law Committee Criminal Justice, Police Reform & Civil Rights
  
  Subject Area(s):
- 2013 Policy Recommendations for New York City's Next Mayor (May 01, 2013) PDF
  
  Author(s): Animal Law Committee Banking Law Committee Children & the Law Committee Council on Children Civil Court Committee Civil Rights Committee Consumer Affairs Committee Corrections & Community Reentry Committee Criminal Advocacy Committee Criminal Courts Committee Criminal Justice Operations Committee Criminal Law Committee Disability Law Committee Domestic Violence Committee Drugs & the Law Committee Education & the Law Committee Environmental Law Committee Housing & Urban Development Committee Monday Night Law/Moderate Means Committee Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Rights Committee Matrimonial Law Committee New York City Affairs Committee Real Property Law Committee Sex & Law Committee Social Welfare Law Committee Transportation Committee United Nations Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Report on A.2484 which would require every school district to be notified of the existing requirement that elementary schools provide instruction in the humane treatment of animals, their importance in the environment, and the importance of spaying and neutering programs for the certification or licensing of classroom teachers, teaching assistants, pupil personnel service professionals, school administrators or supervisors or superintendents of schools (March 01, 2013) PDF
  
  Author(s): Animal Law Committee Children & the Law Committee Education & the Law Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Letter to the President of the Republic of Rwanda expressing concern over reports that the Rwandan Government is recruiting children under the age of 18 to support troops of the M23 rebel forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (March 2013) (March 01, 2013) PDF
  
  Author(s): African Affairs Committee Children & the Law Committee International Human Rights Committee
  
  Subject Area(s):
- Letter to the NYS Office of Children & Family Services regarding the Standards for the Provision of Adolescent Services for Foster Care Youth (December 01, 2009) PDF
  
  Author(s): Children & the Law Committee Family Court & Family Law Committee Council on Children
  
  Subject Area(s):
News & Media
- Legal Reforms, Bills Featured In NYC Bar Legislative Agenda (Law360) (February 14, 2023)
- City Bar Urges Added Funding to Restore NY Courts to Pre-Pandemic Levels (New York Law Journal) (February 14, 2023)
- New York City Bar Association Releases 2023 New York State Legislative Agenda (February 14, 2023)
- 2023 NYS Legislative Agenda: Enact the Anti-Harassment in Reporting Bill (February 13, 2023)
- 2023 NYS Legislative Agenda: Protect children during custodial police interrogation (February 13, 2023)
- As His Influence Peaks in Child Welfare Field, A ‘Family Defenders’ Leader Retires (The Imprint) (September 28, 2022)
- Should New York High Schools Be Required to Teach Financial Literacy? (City Limits) (September 27, 2022)
- Renewed Call to Eliminate Competitive Admissions to New York City Middle-Schools (September 19, 2022)
- When the City Bar Talks…. (July 22, 2022)
- Hochul Signs Bill to Add Supreme and Family Court Judges, Addressing Critical Shortage (New York Law Journal) (July 05, 2022)
- Overburdened NYC Family Court Getting New Judges as Governor Signs Expansion (News4 New York) (July 01, 2022)
- New York Is Failing Its COVID-Orphaned Kids (New York Magazine) (April 24, 2022)
- How the pandemic slowdown in court devastated NYC kids’ lives (National Review) (March 29, 2022)
- How the pandemic slowdown in court devastated NYC kids’ lives (New York Post) (March 26, 2022)
- Can New York's Tangled Court System Be Fixed? (Law360) (March 11, 2022)
- Constitutional Reform of New York Court System Advances (The National Law Review) (March 10, 2022)
- 3 BigLaw Attorneys Work To Improve NY Family Court Access (Law360) (February 25, 2022)
- How NYC's Family Court Failed Families (Brian Lehrer Show, WNYC) (February 10, 2022)
- Improving Access to Justice for All Litigants in New York City Family Court: COVID-19 Crisis Lays Bare “Deep Inequities in Family Court” (February 04, 2022)
- Report on COVID-19 in New York City Family Court Finds Reforms Are 'Essential for Equal Access to Justice' (New York Law Journal) (February 04, 2022)
- Key Lawmakers Vow to Take Action on ‘Gut-Wrenching' NYC Family Court Crisis (News 4 New York) (February 04, 2022)
- NYC Family Court in Crisis, New Report Says (News 4 New York) (February 03, 2022)
- NY State Bar Association Says Illegal, 'Racially Discriminatory' Bar Application Question Must Be Replaced (New York Law Journal) (January 25, 2022)
- NYSBA Asks Courts To Alter 'Illegal' Bar Admission Question (Law360) (January 24, 2022)
- Stop asking law students about juvenile records, NY State bar says (Reuters) (January 24, 2022)
- New York Moves to Ease Police Questions of Would-Be Lawyers (Bloomberg Law) (January 21, 2022)
- Governor Hochul Acts on Outstanding 2021 Bills Commented on by City Bar Committees (January 10, 2022)
- 2021 New York State Legislative Session Recap: City Bar Policy Successes (January 03, 2022)
- Presidential Series: Raising The Bar of Hope (November 30, 2021)
- Critics Say New York’s Inquiry Into Aspiring Attorneys’ Criminal Histories Violates State Law (New York Law Journal) (October 21, 2021)
- Recently Enacted Legislation: Syringe Decriminalization and Restricting the Use of Restraints in Family Court (October 12, 2021)
- NYC Bar Wants Arrest Question On Bar Application Amended (Law360) (June 16, 2021)
- City Bar Says Court System Should Change Criminal History Inquiry for Would-Be Attorneys (New York Law Journal) (June 14, 2021)
- City Bar Says NY Courts Should Not Require Bar Applicants to Disclose All Arrests and Convictions (June 14, 2021)
- 2021 New York State Legislative Session Ends with Progress on a Number of City Bar-Supported Bills (June 11, 2021)
- 2021 New York State Budget Recap: Funding Education and Avoiding Problematic Policies (April 12, 2021)
- Gaps in Family Court Compromise Justice for New York Families and Children, City Bar Report Finds (New York Law Journal) (March 10, 2021)
- Raising The Bar of Hope: Ending The Over-Policing of Black Girls in Schools (March 04, 2021)
- Family Court Judicial Appointment and Assignment Process Causes Delays that Harm Vulnerable Children and Families (March 03, 2021)
- Family Court’s ‘transient bench,’ inefficiencies take heavy toll on kids: report (Queens Daily Eagle) (March 03, 2021)
- Recently Enacted Legislation: Proximity Bill, Driver’s License Suspension Reform Act, Save Our Stages (January 05, 2021)
- Recently Enacted Legislation: Changes to Power of Attorney Law, Protecting Foster Care Youth During COVID-19 Pandemic (December 21, 2020)
- Recently Enacted Legislation: Video Recording Juvenile Interrogations (December 01, 2020)
- NYC Schools Career and Technical Education: A Critical Need for our Students and our City's Economy (October 20, 2020)
- Statement of New York City Bar Association on U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, June 10, 2020 Decision in NY v. Ice (19-Cv-8876(Jsr)) Enjoining Civil Arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents in and around New York State Courthouses (June 10, 2020)
- 2020 NYS Legislative Agenda (January 07, 2020)
- 2019 New York State Legislative Session Recap Chart (December 20, 2019)
- NYCBA Announces 2019 Awardees for Excellence in Service to Family Court (May 14, 2019)
- New York City Bar Association Announces 2019 Kathryn A. McDonald Award Recipients (May 13, 2019)
- Statement by New York City Bar Association President Roger Juan Maldonado on New Court Directive Requiring Judicial Warrants for ICE Arrests in Courthouses (April 17, 2019)
- Immigrants Avoiding State Courts, Legal Services Due to ICE Presence, Report Says (April 10, 2019)
- City Bar Statement on New Report Detailing the Impact of ICE Courthouse Operations in New York (April 10, 2019)
- From the Policy Department: 2019 New York State Budget Recap (April 08, 2019)
- Statement on the Child-Parent Security Act (February 07, 2019)
- Reimagining Domestic Violence Services (January 17, 2019)
- Pilots, Plans, & Promises: Is Desegregation Possible in New York City’s Schools? (November 08, 2018)
- NYC Bar Association makes plea to Chief Judge DiFiore over ICE arrests in the courts (July 11, 2018)
- City Bar Calls on NY Chief Judge to Issue New Rules on ICE Courthouse Arrests (July 11, 2018)
- City Bar Issues Recommendations in Response to ICE Arrests in New York State Courthouses (July 11, 2018)
- City Bar Calls on Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to End Criminal Prosecution, Separation, and Detention of Families Seeking Asylum (July 06, 2018)
- New York City Bar Association Announces 2018 Kathryn A. McDonald Award Winners (May 23, 2018)
- New York Expands Funding Access for Close Kin Who Become a Child's Legal Guardian (December 06, 2017)
- Avella, Hevesi Bill Expanding Protections For Foster Children Receives Governor’s Signature (Queens Gazette) (November 01, 2017)
- Recently Enacted Legislation Supported by the City Bar: KinGAP Eligibility Expansion (October 24, 2017)
- Avella, Hevesi Bill Expanding Protections For Foster Children Passes Legislature (August 30, 2017)
- 2017 McDonald Awards (May 25, 2017)
- New York City Bar Association Announces 2017 Kathryn A. McDonald Award Winners (May 16, 2017)
- Allegations of “Parental Alienation” in the Context of Domestic Violence Litigation (April 21, 2017)
- Statement of City Bar President John S. Kiernan on “Raising the Age” in Final New York State Budget (April 10, 2017)
- 2017 NYS Legislative Agenda Item (March 02, 2017)
- The City Bar’s Response to the New Administration (February 15, 2017)
- City Bar Announces 2016 Kathryn A. McDonald Award Winners (May 12, 2016)
- City Bar Releases 2016 State Legislative Agenda (February 16, 2016)
- New York City Bar Announces 2015 Kathryn A. McDonald Award Winners (May 06, 2015)
- New York City Bar Announces 2014 Kathryn A. McDonald Award Winners (April 29, 2014)
- New York City Bar Announces 2013 Kathryn A. McDonald Award Winners (April 26, 2013)
- Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the New York State Family Court (September 25, 2012)
- New York City Bar Association Announces the 2011 Kathryn A. McDonald Award Winners (April 13, 2011)
Of Interest

Link Between Animal Cruelty and Family Violence: A PowerPoint

Policy Recommendations for New York City's Next Mayor (PDF)

Video: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the New York State Family Court

Children & the Law Committee

The Children and the Law Committee addresses legal issues that impact upon the quality of life for children and families. In furtherance of this mission, the Committee sponsors informational programming at the New York City Bar that highlights child welfare issues, reviews proposed legislation at both the state and federal levels, and discusses and supports innovative initiatives that advance children’s rights. The committee is also dedicated to lending support to other New York City Bar committees whose work impact upon our mission.