What's happening
This bill prohibits registered sex offenders from serving as trustees, principals, officers, or board members in New York public or charter schools.
Why it matters
Strengthens child safety in schools. by legally barring registered sex offenders from holding influential or decision-making roles (such as trustee, principal, officer, or board member) in any New York public or charter school setting, including BOCES and all types of school districts.
Closes existing legal loopholes. by making it explicitly illegal for registered sex offenders to serve in these educational governance and leadership positions, rather than relying on informal practices or background checks alone.
Establishes clear criminal penalties. for violations: Any registered sex offender found to be serving in a prohibited role faces a class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a class D felony for repeat offenses, providing a strong deterrent and a legal tool for enforcement.
Signals a prioritization of community trust and student well-being. by ensuring that those convicted of sex offenses are legally excluded from positions of authority and oversight in schools, which may help reassure parents, staff, and the public about the integrity and safety of school leadership.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Sex Offenders from Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to correction
- Referred to 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.
Bar Sex Offenders From Schools
In Senate Committee · Crime Victims, Crime And Correction · Sponsor Kenneth P. LaValle
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 3723 A. 5516
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
February 13, 2019
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sens. LAVALLE, GALLIVAN, SEWARD, YOUNG -read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to prohibiting certain persons convicted under article six-C of the correction law from serving as a trustee, principal, officer, or member of a board of education of any public school in any BOCES, city, union free, common or central school district or any charter school
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 168-w of the correction law, as relettered by chapter 604 of the laws of 2005, is relettered section 168-x and a new section 168-w is added to read as follows:
§ 168-w. Prohibition of serving as a trustee, principal, officer, or member of a board of education of any public school in any BOCES, city, union free, common or central school district or any charter school. No person required to maintain registration under this article (sex offender registration act) shall be a trustee, principal, officer, or member of a board of education of any public school in any BOCES, city, union free, common or central school district or any charter school.
§ 2. Section 168-t of the correction law, as amended by chapter 373 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows:
§ 168-t. Penalty. Any sex offender required to register or to verify pursuant to the provisions of this article who fails to register or verify in the manner and within the time periods provided for in this article shall be guilty of a class E felony upon conviction for the first offense, and upon conviction for a second or subsequent offense shall be guilty of a class D felony. Any sex offender who violates the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03205-01-9
S. 3723 2 A. 5516
provisions of section one hundred sixty-eight-v or one hundred sixtyeight-w of this article shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor upon conviction for the first offense, and upon conviction for a second or subsequent offense shall be guilty of a class D felony. Any such failure to register or verify may also be the basis for revocation of parole pursuant to section two hundred fifty-nine-i of the executive law or the basis for revocation of probation pursuant to article four hundred ten of the criminal procedure law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.