In the Albany Times Union on Wednesday July 24, 2019.
James Montagnino of Saratoga Springs is an attorney with more than 30 years' experience who works in the New York Family Courts and this is what he has to say about the "Preserving Family Bonds Act":
"Under current law, the termination of parental rights is exactly what the name implies: the cutting off of all parental rights after a judge has heard evidence proving that the parent abused, abandoned or permanently neglected the subject child. Parental rights are not terminated lightly. Usually, the child will have been in the foster care system for about two years before the process is even begun. The new legislation, though, would essentially prevent the termination of parental rights; it would only allow for the termination of parental responsibilities. The parent who was found, on clear and convincing evidence, to have abandoned, abused or permanently neglected the child would be absolved of all liability for child support, day care costs or medical expenses, yet that parent would still enjoy the right to petition for an order of visitation or other contact with the child."