New York Laws
Title 10 - Aid to Dependent Children
352 - Deserted or Abandoned Children; Special Provisions.

(a) to take such steps and make such efforts to locate any parent of
such child whose whereabouts are unknown to such official as all
available means will allow; such means shall include, and there shall be
utilization of, appropriate services offered by the department, by
agencies of other states and by the federal government;
(b) to determine the ability and potential ability of the parents of
each such child to support or to contribute to the support of such
child;
(c) to establish cooperative arrangements with the family court,
county attorneys, corporation counsels and other law enforcement
officials, for the location of missing parents of such children and for
the enforcement of their obligations to support or contribute to support
of such children to the extent of their ability;
(d) to provide pertinent information to such court and law
enforcement officials to enable them to assist in locating absent
parents of such children and in securing support payments therefrom,
provided that there is an agreement between such social services
official and such court and such law enforcement officials insuring that
such information will be used only for the purpose intended;
(e) to reimburse, to the extent that state and federal requirements
authorize or require, appropriate courts and law enforcement officials
for activities related to the requirements of this chapter and the
family court act with respect to enforcement of support obligations and
for services they have undertaken on behalf of such official.
3. For purposes of this section, "absent parent" shall mean any
person who is legally responsible for a spouse or child, who is absent
from the household, whether such person's location is known or unknown,
and fails to provide for the support of such spouse or child.