Assembly Hails Long-Awaited Senate Action on
Sex Offender Registry Expansion

Information on Level 2 offenders to be available online

Calling the vote "long-awaited," Speaker Sheldon Silver and Corrections Committee Chair Jeffrion Aubry today praised recent Senate action on legislation that passed the Assembly in January as part of a legislative package enhancing Megan's Law. The bill adds Level 2, moderate-risk sex offenders to the state sex offender registry and authorizes local police authorities to provide information concerning Level 1 offenders to vulnerable populations through the use of the Internet (A.8370-A).

"Fortunately for the people of New York, the Senate took a break from political grandstanding long enough to realize that they were wasting a valuable opportunity to protect our communities. If the Senate had acted earlier, this critical tool could have been in use months ago," said Silver.

While noting the growing numbers of New Yorkers who rely on the Internet for information, Aubry said it was still important to continue requiring the Department of Criminal Justice Services to maintain computer-accessible information right at local police agencies.

"The Internet is an important tool for information, so it is critical to include the information on Level 2 offenders online. When we held public hearings last year, the Assembly took the lead in ensuring that sound public policy is formulated in an open, public process with the goal of implementing sensible, effective legislation. Garnering expert opinion as well as giving citizens a greater voice in drafting critical legislation that protects the most vulnerable in our society continues the Assembly Majority's extraordinary efforts to craft solutions that incorporate insights gained through this process," said Aubry.

"Fortunately, the Senate has finally followed the Assembly's lead and approved this important legislation, said Aubry. "Since the Senate has already delayed this common-sense legislation long enough, I strongly urge the governor to swiftly sign this bill into law so we can more effectively protect our children from dangerous sex offenders."

The bill was part of the Assembly's Child Safety and Sexual Predator Punishment and Confinement Strategy passed on January 23. A tough, smart plan to safeguard communities, Silver said the full package included measures to impose mandatory life maximum sentences for the most serious sex crimes, civil commitment to ensure the most dangerous predators could be confined even after their prison sentences and a range of other measures to empower and assist victims and closely monitor those convicted of sex offenses once they are released.

Noting the criminal-justice plan was the culmination of a series of public hearings and a roundtable discussion with experts, Silver said he hoped the Senate would continue to join the Assembly in moving forward to ensure the enactment of the full package of bills.