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History
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Provides that certain sex offenders who are released on parole or sentenced to probation may not enter public, association or free libraries
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law and the penal law, in relation to preventing certain sex offenders who are released on parole or sentenced to probation from entering public, association or free libraries
Purpose
Provides that certain sex offenders who are released on parole or sentenced to probation may not enter public, association or free libraries.
Summary of provisions
Section one of subdivision 14 of section 259-c of the executive law, is amended by chapter 320 of the laws of 2006 to state that where a person serving a sentence for an offense defined in article one hundred thirty, one hundred thirty five or two hundred sixty three of the penal law, and the victim of such offense was under the age of eighteen at the time of such offense or such person has been designated a level three sex offender, is released on parole or conditionally released pursuant to subdivision one or two of this section, the board shall require, that such sentenced offender shall refrain from knowingly entering into or upon any school grounds, as that term is defined in subdivision fourteen of section 220.00 of the penal law, or any public library or free library, as defined in subdivision two of section two hundred fifty-three of the education law. Section two, Subdivision 4-a of section 65.10 of the penal law, is amended by chapter 320 of the laws of 2006, stating the mandatory condition of sex offenders. Section three. This act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
Libraries are a place that families can bring their children to learn and to participate in community activities. Parents should not have to worry about their safety and the safety of their children. This measure is necessary because it would prohibit a sex offender from entering a library where they could use a public computer with Internet access to communicate with children and adults with the intention to do harm. Another example why this bill is necessary, in 2008, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a Level 3 sex offender sexually assaulted a six year old boy on the magazine aisle while his mother was using one of the library computers. The predator took the victim into a quiet corner of the library room and raped him. In 2001, this Level III suspect pleased guilty to indecent assault and battery upon a child under fourteen years of age. He spent four years in prison. Prior to his release, police said three experts told a judge that he was still sexually dangerous and should remain beyond bars. Nonetheless the judge released him into society. This bill is necessary because current state law prohibits a Level III sex offender who is released on parole or conditionally released and who committed their crime against a person under 18 years of age, knowingly entering into or upon any school grounds or facilities or institutions that are primarily used for the care or treatment of persons under the age of eighteen. This legislation would add libraries to the list of places that sex offenders cannot enter where children under the age of eighteen congregate. This bill is necessary to protect our children from being harmed by a sex offender. Our libraries should be a safe haven for families not sexual predators.
Legislative history
2009: S.728 - Referred to Codes/A.2944 - Referred to Codes. 2008: S.6907 - Passed Senate/A.10375 - Referred to Codes.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.