Establishes standards for public access to family court proceedings

Bill A 7368 establishes clear standards for public access to family court proceedings in New York. It requires family courts to be open to the public and media in common areas, while allowing judges to exclude individuals only under specific, case-by-case circumstances - such as disruption, objections from parties, privacy concerns, or lack of less restrictive alternatives. Judges must document their reasoning for exclusions on the record. This bill directly affects the public, media, and judges by standardizing access rules across family court cases, ensuring transparency while protecting sensitive matters like child safety.