THE AMENDED STATUTE CHANGING THE CRITERIA FOR NEGLECT BASED ON MARIHUANA USE WENT INTO EFFECT TWO DAYS BEFORE THE HEARING AND WAS NOT APPLIED TO THE FACTS; MATTER REMITTED (FOURTH DEPT).
The Fourth Department, modifying Family Court, determined whether mother neglected the children within the meaning of the statute as amended by the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act required remittal:
“The Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act … amended Family [Court] Act § 1046 (a) (iii) … by specifically foreclosing a prima facie neglect finding based solely upon the use of marihuana, while still allowing for consideration of the use of marihuana to establish neglect, provided ‘[that there is] a separate finding that the child’s physical[,] mental or emotional condition was impaired or is in imminent danger of becoming impaired’ ” … . The amendment to section 1046 (a) (iii) went into effect … two days before the court rendered its decision in this case and, “[a]s a general matter, a case must be decided upon the law as it exists at the time of the decision” … . Inasmuch as petitioner’s presentation of evidence was based on the state of the law at the time of the hearing, however, petitioner may not have fully explored the issue of impairment. We therefore remit the matter to Family Court to reopen the fact-finding hearing on the issue whether the children’s condition was impaired or at imminent risk of impairment as a result of the mother’s use of marihuana … . Matter of Gina R. (Christina R.), 2022 NY Slip Op 07321, Fourth Dept 12-23-22
Practice Point: The Family Court Act was amended to prohibit a finding of neglect based solely on marihuana use unless there is a finding the child’s physical, mental or emotional condition was impaired or in danger of being impaired by the marihuana use.