What's happening
This bill prohibits certain sex offenders from entering school buses or being within 1,000 feet of a school bus stop.
Why it matters
Expands restrictions for high-risk and certain sex offenders. The bill adds school buses and a 1,000-foot radius around designated school bus stops to the list of areas these individuals cannot enter, recognizing that student safety extends beyond school buildings to transit points.
Addresses gaps in current law. By including bus stops and buses, the legislation seeks to cover situations where children gather outside of traditional school grounds, reducing opportunities for contact in public, less-supervised settings.
Allows for limited, supervised exceptions. Offenders who need to access these locations for legitimate reasons (such as employment or family) may do so only with written authorization from both probation authorities and school administrators, balancing public safety with practical needs.
Signifies increased legislative focus on child safety in everyday environments. The move highlights a broader effort to create “safe zones” around children not just in schools, but throughout daily routines like commuting, reflecting evolving understandings of risk and protection.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Keep Sex Offenders from Buses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
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.
Ban Sex Offenders Near School Buses
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5734
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 27, 2017
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to prohibiting certain sex offenders from entering a school bus or within one thousand feet of a school bus stop
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 4-a of section 65.10 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 67 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
4-a. Mandatory conditions for sex offenders. (a) When imposing a sentence of probation or conditional discharge upon a person convicted of an offense defined in article one hundred thirty, two hundred thirty-five or two hundred sixty-three of this chapter, or section 255.25, 255.26 or 255.27 of this chapter, 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 pursuant to subdivision six of section [168-l] one hundred sixty-eight-l of the correction law, the court shall require, as a mandatory condition of such sentence, 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 this chapter, or any school bus, as defined in section one hundred forty-two of the vehicle and traffic law, or within one thousand feet of a designated school bus stop, defined as a regularly occurring stop where passengers are discharged or taken on, or any other facility or institution primarily used for the care or treatment of persons under the age of eighteen while one or more of such persons under the age of eighteen are present, provided however, that when such sentenced offender is a registered student or participant or an employee of such facility or institution or entity contracting therewith or has a family member enrolled in such facility or institution, such sentenced
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02893-01-7
S. 5734 2
offender may, with the written authorization of his or her probation officer or the court and the superintendent or chief administrator of such facility, institution or grounds, enter such facility, institution or upon such grounds for the limited purposes authorized by the probation officer or the court and superintendent or chief officer. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as restricting any lawful condition of supervision that may be imposed on such sentenced offender.
(b) When imposing a sentence of probation or conditional discharge upon a person convicted of an offense for which registration as a sex offender is required pursuant to subdivision two or three of section one hundred sixty-eight-a of the correction 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 pursuant to subdivision six of section one hundred sixty-eight-l of the correction law or the internet was used to facilitate the commission of the crime, the court shall require, as mandatory conditions of such sentence, that such sentenced offender be prohibited from using the internet to access pornographic material, access a commercial social networking website, communicate with other individuals or groups for the purpose of promoting sexual relations with persons under the age of eighteen, and communicate with a person under the age of eighteen when such offender is over the age of eighteen, provided that the court may permit an offender to use the internet to communicate with a person under the age of eighteen when such offender is the parent of a minor child and is not otherwise prohibited from communicating with such child. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed as restricting any other lawful condition of supervision that may be imposed on such sentenced offender. As used in this subdivision, a "commercial social networking website" shall mean any business, organization or other entity operating a website that permits persons under eighteen years of age to be registered users for the purpose of establishing personal relationships with other users, where such persons under eighteen years of age may: (i) create web pages or profiles that provide information about themselves where such web pages or profiles are available to the public or to other users; (ii) engage in direct or real time communication with other users, such as a chat room or instant messenger; and (iii) communicate with persons over eighteen years of age; provided, however, that, for purposes of this subdivision, a commercial social networking website shall not include a website that permits users to engage in such other activities as are not enumerated herein.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to prohibiting certain sex offenders from entering a school bus or within one thousand feet of a school bus stop
Purpose
This bill would prohibit certain sex offenders from entering a school bus or school bus stop.
Summary of provisions
This legislation amends Section 65.10(4-a) of the Penal Law by adding school bus and within 1000 feet of a school bus stop to the list of prohibited areas that convicted sex offenders may knowingly enter.
Justification
Under current law, sex offenders, as a mandatory condition of probation or conditional discharge, must refrain from knowingly entering into or upon school grounds. This bill is a logical extension of that law and adds school bus and school bus stop to the prohibited area. Bus routes and stops are obvious gathering places for students traveling to and from school. Unfortunately, they may also provide an opportunity for pedophiles to lure children. Including school buses and bus stops as prohibited areas will provide more comprehensive protection to children on their way to and from school.
Legislative history
New Bill.
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.