New York State Assembly

Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C,I-Canandaigua) today applauded the Senate's passage of Brittany's Law, and urged the Assembly Majority to do the same before the end of the 2014 Legislative Session. Brittany's Law would create a registry of violent felony offenders, similar to the sex offender registry created under Megan's Law.

"This is the most important public safety measure we can deliver for New York State," Leader Kolb said. "Providing information about violent felony offenders saves lives, prevents crimes and makes communities safer. Despite bipartisan support and passage in the Senate, this legislation has been stalled in the Assembly since 2011. Victims of violent crimes deserve better. Brittany's Law should pass the Assembly this session."

Brittany's Law is named after Brittany Passalacqua, a 12-year-old girl who was murdered in 2009 along with her mother, Helen Buchel, in Geneva, New York. The two were killed by John Edward Brown, who was on parole after serving time in prison for violently assaulting his infant daughter in 2003. Ms. Buchel was unaware of Brown's violent criminal history. Had a registry of violent offenders been in place, this tragic crime, and hundreds of others across the state, could have been avoided.

Leader Kolb has been a co-sponsor of Brittany's Law since it was introduced in the Assembly in 2011. He has worked diligently alongside Sen. Mike Nozzolio and family members of Brittany Passalacqua to advance this critical public safety initiative. The Brittany's Law legislation (A.8916, Gunther, Kolb) is currently awaiting action in the Assembly Correction Committee.