Shared Parenting Showdown in New York, they need our help

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  Wednesday, March 8, 2006  
 

 
Shared Parenting Showdown in New York
 
   
 
New York's Shared Parenting Bill has reached a critical point and we want to help give the bill a strong push forward.

New York is a battleground state for shared parenting and
 

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fatherhood. Family law has been in the spotlight there, as the New York Matrimonial Commission has held hearings on family law across the state. The Commission recently recommended no-fault divorce for New York.

A330, the New York Shared Parenting Bill, is sponsored by the Coalition of Fathers and Families New York, the New York affiliate of the American Coalition for Fathers & Children.


What the Bill Would Do

Today joint custody is rare in New York and sole custody for mothers is the norm. A330 would "require the court to award custody to both parents in the absence of allegations that shared parenting would be detrimental to the child." It would place the burden of proof that shared parenting would be detrimental where it should be--on the parent requesting sole custody.

The bill also establishes an order of preference for custody, the top preference being joint custody. If the court decides against joint custody, it must state its reasons.


How to Take Action

The bill is slated to be heard by the New York State Assembly's Children & Families Committee on March 28. Three dozen New York State Assemblypersons have signed on to the bill as sponsors or co-sponsors, giving the bill momentum. This momentum will be lost if the bill dies in committee. That's why I want all of you to write to the committee members with your support for this bill by clicking here.

According to FAFNY, letters and calls from anywhere in the country help because they give the bill attention and show the broad national support for shared parenting. To call the Committee members also, click here.

Like California, New York is a battleground state for family law because what happens there has a great impact on the family law of other states. A victory on A330 would reverberate across the country, aiding in ways large or small every child of divorce.

We want letters from all of you, no matter what state you live in. To write a letter, click here. To call the Committee members also, click here.

Hearing from so many of you over the past several years, it would be hard to put into words the amount of pain and misery caused by our current family law system and its sole custody, win/lose orientation. Now is your chance to help change the system.


We Can Win

The battle for A330 won't be easy but you have helped win great victories in the past and can do so here, too. For example, in 2004 we mobilized over 2,000 people to defeat a California bill which would have given custodial parents almost unlimited right to move children out of noncustodial parents' lives.

Last year we helped the California Alliance for Families and Children push through SB 1082, a bill to help noncustodial parents who serve in the Armed Forces.

We have had numerous other successes (click here to learn more). Again, I want all of you to participate by clicking here.


How A330/Shared Parenting Helps Kids

Numerous studies show that shared parenting is what's best for kids. To cite one, Robert Bauserman, Ph.D, conducted a meta-analysis of 33 studies between 1982 to 1999 that examined 1,846 sole-custody and 814 joint-custody children. Bauserman found that "Children in joint custody arrangements had less behavior and emotional problems, had higher self-esteem, better family relations and school performance than children in sole custody arrangements."


Who Opposes A330?

A330 is opposed by the usual suspects--feminists and divorce attorneys. The New York Chapter of the National Organization for Women and the National Coalition for Family Justice oppose A330 and instead advocate de facto automatic sole custody privileges for mothers under the pretense that it is what's best for children. In reality, what's best for children of divorce is that we protect their loving bonds with the two most important people in their lives--their moms and dads. The New York State Matrimonial Bar Association has also expressed opposition to the bill, though they have not yet formally opposed it.

Some of you may have noticed a few weeks ago that NY NOW president Marcia Pappas wrote a column on family law in the New York Times in which she cited husbands who wanted divorces because dad's "girlfriend is pregnant." This is typical of the contempt and disregard which feminists show for divorced dads--are we going to allow them to make our family law?

Again, to participate, click here.

 
 
   
Write New York State Assembly's Children & Families Committee

Complete and send the form below to write to the following members of
New York State Assembly's Children & Families Committee.

William Scarborough, Chair
Carmen E. Arroyo
Michael Benjamin
Adam Bradley
Karim Camara
Barbara M. Clark
Ruben Diaz Jr.
Joseph A. Errigo
 Deborah J. Glick
Carl E. Heastie
Vincent Ignizio
Amy Paulin
Naomi Rivera
Annette Robinson
Teresa R. Sayward
Michele R. Titus
 

Your Email Address:

RE: A330
Position: Support
 
Dear Assembly Children & Families Committee Member:
 
I am writing to urge you to pass A330, which you will be considering this month.
 
I support A330 and shared custody because it protects children's ability to maintain a meaningful relationship with both parents after divorce. Research clearly establishes that shared custody creates better outcomes for children emotionally, educationally, and financially.
 
New York children of divorce often see one of the two people they love most in the world pushed to the margins of their lives. A330 protects the critical bonds children share with their parents by creating a presumption that both parents will be allowed to play a meaningful role in their children's lives after divorce.

Sincerely,

Please type your full name here to act as your signature

Your Phone:
Including your phone number will help authenticate your letter. Phone numbers are not collected or shared with any third party.


 
 
 

 

Call New York State Assembly's Children & Families Committee
Use the phone numbers below to contact the following members of New York State Assembly's Children & Families Committee.

Committee Member District Office Albany Office
William Scarborough, Chair 718-657-5312
 518-455-4451
Carmen E. Arroyo 718-292-2901 518-455-5402
Michael Benjamin 718-588-3119 518-455-5272
Adam Bradley 914-686-7335 518-455-5397
Karim Camara 718-756-1776 518-455-5262
Barbara M. Clark 718-479-2333 518-455-4711
Ruben Diaz Jr. 718-893-0202 518-455-5514
Joseph A. Errigo 585-334-5210 518-455-5662
Deborah J. Glick 212-674-5153 518-455-4841
Carl E. Heastie 718-654-6539 518-455-4800
Vincent Ignizio 718-967-5194 518-455-4495
Amy Paulin 914-723-1115 518-455-5585
Naomi Rivera 718-409-0109 518-455-5844
Annette Robinson
 718-399-7630 518-455-5474
Teresa R. Sayward 518-873-3803
or
518-792-4546 518-455-5565
Michele R. Titus 718-327-1845 518-455-5668

 
 

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