New York State currently has no restrictions on a woman's right to choose due to a strong pro-choice community. The State provides Medicaid funding for women obtaining a medically necessary abortion; in 1998, the State paid for 35,000 medically necessary abortions (New York State Law, 2001).
New York State Penal Law Art. 125 identifies abortion as homicide unless it is a "justifiable abortion act" defined as performed on a female with her consent by a licensed physician acting under a reasonable belief that such is needed to preserve her life or within 24 weeks from the commencement of the pregnancy. Abortion in the first degree is a class D felony, while abortion second degree is a Class B misdemeanor (Article 125à, 2002).
As of 2002, the Legislature is considering bills on abortion rights. A0364 (sponsored by Young) proposed that women should be given a 24-hour waiting time between a request for legal abortion and the abortion itself (Bill Summary ûA03684. 2002). A02826 (sponsored by Kirwan) seeks to restrict public assistance payment for "partial birth abortion" (Bill Summary û A0286, 2002). A07655 (sponsored by Kirwan) seeks to limit public financing of abortions and related medical expenses only when the medical assistance was determined to be necessary to preserve the life of the mother (Bill Summary- A07655, 2002).
In New York State, parents appearing in Family Court have the right to appeal a judge's decision regarding minor children or other matters and to ask a higher court to review evidence and testimony. Court records of Family Court proceedings are not open to public inspection (Introductory guide toà, 2002).
Senate Bill 454: Parental Rights Act (2002) sponsored by Maltese would have, if passed, protected the constitutional right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children.
The New York State Department of Health has an Early Intervention Program for child care, education ...