Enacts the family protection act; repealer

This bill, known as the Family Protection Act, modifies New York State's family court procedures to strengthen protections for children in cases involving parental neglect or abandonment. It directly affects family court judges, child welfare agencies, and parents whose custody rights are being challenged. The key changes update the legal standards for terminating parental rights by clarifying when a parent's failure to maintain contact with their child constitutes neglect, requiring specific findings that reunification efforts would be in the child's best interest before permanently severing family ties. The legislation also standardizes how courts define and evaluate permanent neglect in petitions seeking to commit custody to authorized agencies. These amendments aim to ensure that family relationships are only severed when necessary and consistent with children's welfare.