Draft Child Welfare Reform Laws Comment Period & Public Hearings
Public Meeting, Public Notice
May 11, 2026
Public Notice of Hearing & Request for Public Comments
The Child Welfare Reform Committee is seeking public comments to the Draft Child Welfare Law and the Draft Actions Between Parents Law. The Draft Child Welfare Law will replace the current Seneca Nation Child Welfare Law for actions regarding allegations of child neglect and abuse. The Draft Child Welfare Law will provide greater clarity and more standards for the Peacemaker’s Court and Seneca Nation Family Support Services in administering the law to prevent child abuse and neglect, remediate the causes leading to abuse and neglect, and reunite families. Where families cannot be safely reunited, this law provides for greater rights of the parents and their families in retaining some access or updates while finalizing other permanent placements through guardianship or adoption.
The Draft Actions Between Parents Law will address actions between parents for the establishment of paternity, legal custody, physical placement of the child, and access with the child. The Seneca Nation currently does not have a written law to address such actions, and this law will provide standards and regularity for these actions in Peacemakers’ Court.
The Child Welfare Reform Committee also will be recommending the Seneca Nation pursue a Child Support Enforcement Division and for that entity to create a child support law. The Draft Child Welfare Law and Draft Actions Between Parents Law will not encompass child support standards, as those are planned to be created by the future Child Support Enforcement Division.
Comment Period
The comment period will run for thirty (30) days beginning on May 29, 2026 and ending at 4:30pm on June 29, 2026.
Documents may be viewed here or be requested in person at the Seneca Nation Clerk’s Offices.
Comments may be submitted during the in-person meetings or to Childwelfarecomments@sni.org by 4:30pm on June 29, 2026.
Public Hearings
Public hearings and informational sessions will be held for the Draft Child Welfare Law on:
Date: June 16th
Time: 5:00-7:00pm
Location: Cattaraugus Council Chambers
Date: June 17th
Time: 5:00-7:00pm
Location: Allegany Council Chambers
Public hearings and information sessions will be held for the Draft Actions Between Parents Law on:
Date: June 23rd
Time: 5:00-6:00pm
Location: Cattaraugus Council Chambers
Date: June 24th
Time: 5:00-6:00pm
Location: Allegany Council Chambers
