ALBANY, N.Y. (WHEC) — A new bill from the New York State Assembly aims to expand access to supervised child visitation services across the state. The bill still needs to be voted on by the state senate.
The program also aims to ensure safe, structured parenting time in every county, specifically in high-risk allegations of abuse, mental health concerns, or family violence.
“Expanding access to supervised visitation is a meaningful step toward ensuring that courts have safer, more practical options when addressing complex custody disputes,” said Nancy Nissen, partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC. “In many cases, the absence of these programs forces difficult tradeoffs between preserving parental relationships and protecting children. Supervised visitation allows courts to meet families where they are, without judgment, while prioritizing the children’s best interests.”
Family law attorneys say the program could reduce delays in custody proceedings and domestic violence cases, while increasing demand for visitation centers.
