Senator Catherine Young (R-Olean)
ALBANY – Following a comprehensive investigation by the New York State Senate Coalition that resulted in a report detailing numerous sex offenders living near Pre-K and Kindergarten facilities, the New York Senate closed loopholes in existing laws and increases local authorities’ ability to restrict living arrangements for sex offenders.
According to Senator Cathy Young (R-Olean), the investigation found a dozen cases of convicted sex offenders legally living within 1,000 feet of stand-alone Universal Pre-K and Kindergarten programs.
On Thursday the Senate approved legislation that will:
- Allow localities to enact stronger sex offender residency restrictions;
- Requires school districts distribute information about a sex offender’s residence upon notification from law enforcement;
- Closes existing loopholes on the legal definition of a school to include Pre-K and Kindergarten facilities; and
- Establishes risk assessment hearings before a sexual predator is released into a community.
The investigation came after a New York State Court of Appeals ruling earlier this month that struck down sex offender residency restrictions enacted by local municipalities in Nassau County. According to the ruling, the laws passed by the municipalities preempted state laws on sex offender residency, thus making them unenforceable.
The package of bills now heads to the Democratic-led Assembly. Republicans control the Senate. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, said Thursday that he hasn’t had a chance to review the bills yet.
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