Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Codes Committee Chair Joseph R. Lentol and Corrections Committee Chair Jeffrion L. Aubry today announced the passage of a package of legislation intended to increase protections for families through greater oversight of registered sex offenders.

The legislation passed today would enable law enforcement to keep better track of registered sex offenders by requiring the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to notify them if an offender listed on the statewide registry does not verify his or her address within ten days of the date the verification form was mailed (A.841/Gunther). In cases where law enforcement officials visit an offender's address and verify that the individual still resides there, a civil penalty would nonetheless be assessed. If the offender is no longer residing at the address or refuses to sign the verification documents, he or she would face prosecution for at least a class E felony offense.

Another measure would require DCJS to provide registry information on level 2 and 3 sex offenders to municipal housing authorities (A.3024-F/Benjamin).

"Even in these difficult times, there is no greater concern for a parent then the safety of their children," said Silver (D-Manhattan). "We must assure parents that we are serious in our oversight of the sex offenders who live in and around their communities."

"I know that parents want to make sure there is detailed information regarding the whereabouts of sex offenders, especially those living near their family," said Lentol (D-Brooklyn). "The legislation passed today will help to ensure that families are informed about the location of these dangerous criminals so they can take steps to protect their children."

"Enhancing public safety and ensuring that New York families are safe has always been a top priority of the Assembly," said Aubry (D-Queens). "Instituting increased requirements for the sex offender registry, including the offender's employment address and type of supervision, will help protect citizens and communities across the state."

• Create the crime of criminal trespass for a level 2 or 3 sex offender who enters a school where his or her victim attends or formerly attended (A.2257-B/Stirpe);
• Enhance information required on the sex offender registry by requiring DCJS to indicate whether a sex offender is in violation of registration requirements (A.2108/Benjamin) and the type and length of the registrant's assigned supervision (A.10777/DelMonte);
• Require that an offender who fails to register or verify as a sex offender will have the length of time he or she was in violation of the law added to the duration of the registration (A.2132/John); and
• Require level 2 sex offenders to disclose their employment address, including any volunteer employment (A.10276/Ortiz).