Prohibits a court from providing for visitation or custody of a minor who is a U.S. citizen to a person who resides outside the U.S. when the other party to such action is a U.S. citizen and objects to such an order.
Relates to authorizing the payment of costs, up to eighty dollars, of diapers for an eligible child two years of age or younger for children receiving safety net assistance.
Prohibits courts from ordering an evaluation of a party or child or allowing into evidence a forensic report created by a forensic evaluator on a party or child to assist such court in a child custody or visitation determination.
Provides training to staff members accepting registrations, issuing licenses or conducting inspections of child day care homes, programs or facilities on the detection of controlled substances.
Requires each social services district to maintain a waiting list of eligible families who have applied for child care assistance; requires the local districts to report such list to the office of children and family services who shall then compile such reports and issue one report to the legislature annually; requires the social services districts to collect data regarding the income of families who have applied, were denied and received child care assistance and issue a report to the office of children and family services who shall then compile such reports and issue one report to the legislature annually.
Requires the court making a determination of the best interest of the child in custody matters to consider evidence that a child is enrolled in, or that either parent intends to enroll the child in, a nonpublic elementary or secondary school that is noncompliant with the academic requirements set forth in the education law.
Removes certain requirements on what the office of children and family services can determine to be an appropriate staff/child ratios for family day care homes, group family day care homes, school age day care programs and day care centers.
Expands the persons responsible for reporting cases of suspected child abuse to include employees, volunteers, or agents of any corporate entity having an agreement with a municipality as a homeless shelter provider and the development of procedures related thereto.
Allows for child protective services workers to complete the required training on the fundamentals of child protection through distance learning methods beginning April 1, 2025.
Establishes the independent office of the child advocate to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of children in the care of any state agency or local social services district.