Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) is urging his colleagues to enact Brittany’s Law, a crucial piece of crime-prevention legislation that has failed to reach the Assembly Floor despite years of solid Senate support.

Brittany’s Law-Domestic Violence Protection Act (A08916) would develop a public registry of violent felony offenders. The law would require parolees to submit their information to the registry upon their release from prison.

The violent felons would be required to re-enroll each year to help law enforcement officials keep track of their whereabouts and ensure that citizens could access an up-to-date database.

“This is a common-sense initiative,” said Barclay. “An informed public always makes better decisions. If parents know that violent offenders are living near them, they can take every precaution to protect their children. This bill is not about marginalizing parolees. Our goal here is to keep our families safe.”

Brittany’s Law is named after Brittany Passalacqua, a 12-year-old girl who was murdered in 2009 in Geneva, New York. Brittany and her mother, Helen Buchel, were senselessly killed by John Edward Brown, a parolee whose criminal history included a conviction for assaulting his infant daughter. Buchel was tragically unaware of Brown’s history of violence.

“This registry will provide New Yorkers with lifesaving information,” added Barclay.

Brittany’s Law has passed the State Senate each of the past five years. This year, it passed with a 54-5 vote. Despite sponsorship on both sides of the aisle, the Assembly Majority has kept Brittany’s Law from reaching the floor for a vote.