What's happening
This bill removes the exception allowing sex offenders to avoid penalty for not verifying their address if they haven't moved.
Why it matters
Closes a loophole for sex offender address verification. Previously, sex offenders could avoid penalties for failing to return their annual address verification form by claiming they hadn’t moved; this amendment removes that defense, requiring all offenders to comply regardless of any change in residence.
Strengthens monitoring and accountability. By mandating annual verification without exceptions, the bill aims to improve the accuracy of the sex offender registry, making it a more reliable tool for law enforcement and the public.
Potential deterrent against non-compliance. The threat of penalty for failing to verify, even without a change of address, may encourage higher rates of compliance among registrants, reducing opportunities for offenders to become untraceable.
Reflects a policy shift toward public safety. The amendment signals a legislative priority to tighten sex offender tracking, potentially addressing community concerns about gaps in monitoring and increasing trust in the enforcement system.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Annual Sex Offender Verification
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to correction
- Referred to correction
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4082
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 1, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SIMOTAS, COLTON, M. G. MILLER, CROUCH, HOOPER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, RAIA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to the duty of sex offenders to annually verify their address
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 2 of section 168-f of the correction law, as amended by chapter 453 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
(c) If the sex offender fails to mail the signed verification form to the division within ten calendar days after receipt of the form, he or she shall be in violation of this section [unless he proves that he or she has not changed his or her residence address].
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04140-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.