What's happening
This bill ensures that adoption petitions cannot be denied solely because the petitioner's parentage is already legally recognized in New York.
Why it matters
Reinforces legal security for families. This bill ensures that individuals whose parentage is already recognized by New York law cannot have their adoption petitions dismissed solely because their parentage is already established, providing an added legal layer of protection and clarity.
Addresses gaps for non-biological or LGBTQ+ parents. For families formed via assisted reproduction, surrogacy, or same-sex relationships, this makes it easier to secure both parental rights through adoption, even if one parent is already recognized, reducing the risk of future legal challenges.
Prevents arbitrary denial of adoption petitions. By explicitly prohibiting denial on the grounds of existing legal parentage, the bill removes a barrier that could be used to deny families the option of formalizing or reaffirming parent-child relationships through adoption.
Promotes consistency and stability in family law. The amendment helps ensure that all families have equal access to the legal benefits, protections, and recognition that come with adoption, regardless of how their family was initially legally recognized.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Adoption If Parent Recognized
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Signed chap.258
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- 3rd reading cal.351
- Substituted for S3999
- Referred to children and families
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Advanced to third reading cal.13
- Reported
- Referred to judiciary
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Protect Legally-Recognized Parent Rights
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
460
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, BARRETT, GOTTFRIED, FAHY, RYAN, WEPRIN, CARROLL -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. RIVERA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the domestic relations law, in relation to adoption by a petitioner where such petitioner's parentage is legally-recognized
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 110 of the domestic relations law is amended by adding a new closing paragraph to read as follows:
A petition to adopt, pursuant to the terms of this article, where the petitioner's parentage is legally-recognized under New York State law shall not be denied solely on the basis that the petitioner's parentage is already legally-recognized.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00615-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.