Rules of court

§ 249-b. Rules of court. (a) The chief administrator of the courts, pursuant to paragraph (e) of subdivision two of section two hundred twelve of the judiciary law, shall promulgate court rules for attorneys for children. Such court rules shall:

1. prescribe workload standards for attorneys for children, including maximum numbers of children who can be represented at any given time, in order to ensure that children receive effective assistance of counsel comporting with legal and ethical mandates, the complexity of the proceedings affecting each client to which the attorney is assigned, and the nature of the court appearance likely to be required for each individual client; and

2. provide for the development of training programs with the input of and in consultation with the state office for the prevention of domestic violence. Such training programs must include the dynamics of domestic violence and its effect on victims and on children, and the relationship between such dynamics and the issues considered by the court, including, but not limited to, custody, visitation and child support. Such training programs along with the providers of such training must be approved by the office of court administration following consultation with and input from the state office for the prevention of domestic violence; and

3. require that all attorneys for children, including new and veteran attorneys, receive initial and ongoing training as provided for in this section.

(b) Appointments of attorneys for children under section two hundred forty-nine of this part shall be in conformity with the rules.