SENATE EXPANDS MEGAN'S LAW

Passage Will Save Millions in Federal Aid

Monday, January 28, 2002

The New York State Senate today passed legislation designed to expand the Sex Offender Registry and ensure New York remains in full compliance with federal funding standards.

"The Assembly's failure to pass this legislation will result in the loss of millions of dollars in federal funding for local law enforcement initiatives and increase the likelihood that repeat sex offenders and pedophiles will remain unaccounted for in our communities," said Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno. "I strongly urge the Assembly to act on this legislation immediately to save these revenues and keep the most vulnerable members of society safe from these terrible criminals."

"This is vital legislation for New York State," said Senator Skelos, the original sponsor of Megan's Law. "This bill not only strengthens our Sex Offender Registration Law and enhances the safety of our communities, it also ensures that New York will receive its full share of this valuable federal grant. With September 11th's tremendous impact on the State Budget, this federal funding is more important than ever."

If this legislation is not passed by March 11, 2002, New York State will lose approximately $3 million in federal Byrne Formula Grant funding this year. That number could grow even larger in future years until the legislation is passed. Those funds are currently used to fight crime across New York State in a variety of programs, including anti-drug programs, provide aid to city police departments across the state, fund the legal aid society in New York City and criminal defense upstate and on Long Island, aid prosecutors' offices in New York City, provide alternatives to incarceration-- specifically for drug offenders-- and continue Youth Courts.

The bill would include numerous additional crimes within the current list of registerable offenses, and mandates the registration of convicted sex offenders attending or employed at New York State's colleges and universities. The bill would also impose new requirements on non-residents employed or attending school within the state and enact lifetime registration for recidivists and aggravated offenders.

Over the last two years, New York passed the Sexual Assault Reform Act of 2000, the Hate Crimes Act of 2000 and the Anti-Terrorism Act 2001. These laws created new sex offenses that have now been added to the list of registerable offenses, ensuring that the state is in compliance with federal mandates requiring the registration of all sex offenders.

The bill was sent to the Assembly.

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