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Assembly approves statewide supervised-visitation program; lawmakers question funding and details
Summary
Legislation to create a statewide supervised-visitation initiative passed the Assembly after extended debate about cost, oversight, program design and whether the governor or the budget will supply funding.
The Assembly approved a bill to establish a statewide supervised-visitation initiative intended to provide safe, court-ordered parenting time in cases where supervision is needed, supporters said — but members pressed for more detail on funding, staffing and program design.
Sponsor and purpose: Sponsor Assembly Member Hevesy said the bill directs the Office of Victim Services (OVS) to work with counties to create supervised-visitation sites, citing court backlogs and counties that have lost local programs. Hevesy noted prior work and an Office of Court Administration (OCA) estimate (discussed on the floor) and said the program is intended to reduce trauma and strengthen family connections when appropriate.
Cost and implementation concerns: Members repeatedly asked whether funding would be included in the current budget; Hevesy said he expected the executive to provide money if the bill reaches the governor, and described near-term options (OVS or OCFS line items or post-budget allocations). Several members warned that start-up and operating costs — especially for therapeutic visits requiring trained professionals — could be substantially higher than initial estimates. The sponsor said he intends state funding without county matches and cited opportunities to use community dispute-resolution centers and existing sites in some counties.
Program design questions: Lawmakers asked whether services will be brick-and-mortar or mobile, how fee waivers and sliding scales would work, and whether counties’ existing supervised-visitation programs (some closed for lack of funds) would be revived. The sponsor said the legislation follows guidance from the federal Office on Violence Against Women; OVS and counties will flesh out detailed regulations.
Vote and outcome: After extended debate and multiple explanations on the floor, the Assembly recorded a roll call and passed the bill. Supporters framed the measure as a statewide effort to provide services where none currently exist; opponents urged more budget detail and suggested narrower pilot programs to target the highest-need domestic-violence cases first.
