The special session called by the Governor was anything short of special. I expected to deal with the urgent need for the legislature to pass a civil confinement bill; unfortunately that was not the case.
After the New York State Court of Appeals ruled against the governor’s confinement of Level 3 sex offenders finding it unconstitutional, my colleagues and I continued our push for civil confinement legislation.
Despite the Senate passing the legislation and the support by the governor, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver blocked civil confinement legislation from reaching the Assembly floor for a vote. By keeping the legislation locked in committee, the democratic process was denied and New Yorkers were robbed of meaningful legislation meant to protect our most vulnerable citizens, our children.
I find Speaker Silver’s actions deplorable as this legislation would have kept the worst sexual predators out of our neighborhoods and helped to make New York a safer place to live.
With civil confinement unable to reach the Assembly floor for a vote, the only bright spot during the special session was the passage of Timothy’s Law. Timothy’s Law requires insurance companies to provide expanded coverage of mental illness.
I am hopeful that the governor will again call another special session before the year end so we can have an opportunity to pass important civil confinement legislation.