Declare Missing Persons Day

April 6, 2017, as Missing Persons Day in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to create public awareness concerning the devastation occurring as a result of the unexplained disappearance of a loved one; and WHEREAS, Thursday, April 6, 2017, is the observance of the 39th birthday of Suzanne Gloria Lyall, a University at Albany student who has been missing since 1998; and WHEREAS,This year, March 2, 2017, will mark the 19th Anniversary of when Suzanne Gloria Lyall disappeared; and WHEREAS, A bright, creative and talented computer science student, Suzanne Lyall touched countless lives with her poetry, radiant personality and cheerful, infectious smile; and WHEREAS, The youngest of the three children of Mary and the late Doug Lyall, Suzanne Lyall of Ballston Spa, New York, disappeared at the age of 19 in the prime of her life, while preparing for a brilliant future; and WHEREAS, In 1999, legislation was enacted that required all colleges to adopt plans for investigation of reports of missing students and of violent felony offenses occurring on their campuses; and further required that such plans include agreements with local police agencies for coordination of these investigations; and further required the Division of Criminal Justice Services to operate a toll free 24-hour telephone number that members of the public may call to obtain information as to resources available to the public to assist in the location and recovery of missing persons; and WHEREAS, In 2000, New York State passed legislation known as "Suzanne's Law," which provides for increased penalties for certain crimes committed on school grounds; and WHEREAS, The State of New York intends to make April 6, 2017, a day of recognition of the need to further enhance efforts to locate missing persons in New York, noting the missing persons epidemic in this State, and the impact this epidemic has on the families, people close to a missing individual, and the community as a whole; and WHEREAS, Several thousand people are labeled "missing" in New York State, many of whom are 18 years of age or older; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that we should attempt to bring comfort to the family members of missing persons in the State of New York who suffer from continuous grieving and who are condemned to carry the burden of uncertainty as a result of not knowing the true circumstances of their loved one's disappearance or whereabouts; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body reaffirms its ongoing crusade by observing April 6, 2017, as Missing Persons Day in the State of New York; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 6, 2017, as Missing Persons Day in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.