Requires sex offenders to verify their residence and registration on a biannual basis

BILL NUMBER:S1428

Title of bill

An act to amend the correction law, in relation to requiring sex offenders to verify their registration with the sex offender registry on a biannual basis

Purpose

To increase the number of times a sex offender has to verify their registration with the Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Summary of provisions

Section One - Subdivision 4 of Section 168-b of the Correction Law, as added by Chapter 192 of the Laws of 1995, is amended to provide that DCJS shall on random dates in each six month period of the year mail a non-forwardable verification form to sex offenders.

Section Two - The opening paragraph of subdivision 2 of section 168-f of the Correction Law, as added by Chapter 192 of the Laws of 1995, is amended to change from an annual verification date to a random biannual verification procedure.

Section Three - Subdivision 2 of section 168-g of the Correction Law, as amended by section 18 of subpart B of part C of Chapter 62 of the laws of 2011, is amended to provide that sex offenders must comply with the random biannual address verification.

Section Four - Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 168-h of the Correction Law, as amended by Chapter 1 of the Laws of 2006, are amended to change annually to biannually.

Section Five - Sets forth the effective date.

Justification

Terrifying examples of the need for stricter laws regulating sex offenders permeate the news across the country evening after evening. The killing of children like Jessica Lunsford in Florida is a sad commentary indeed that sex offender registration and community notification are not enough to keep our children and communities safe from such vicious predators. Law enforcement officers need better tools to be able to keep track of the most dangerous offenders, especially those who choose to ignore their registration requirements under New York State's version of Megan's Law. Therefore, it is vitally important to verify the registered location of sex offenders to make sure that they have not moved and are still following their registration requirements. Under current law, level three offenders must verify their registration every 90 days. However, level 1 and 2 offenders are only checked on once a year with a verification form on their anniversary of registration. Recent attacks on children across the country have shown that sex offenders will often abscond from their registered address to areas where law enforcement and residents are unaware of their existence. Therefore, it is important to verify that a sex offender is indeed living where they are registered at least once in each six month period of time.

It also makes great sense to have this card sent randomly rather than on a specific anniversary date when an offender knows that it is coming.

Legislative history

2011-2012: S.1829A - Reported to Finance 2009-2010: S.1485 - Referred to Codes 2007-2008: S.434 - Passed Senate, Non-Controversial/Assembly Corrections 2005-2006: S.S404A - Passed Senate/Assembly Corrections

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law, provided that any rules, regulations and forms necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such date.