What's happening
This bill requires sex offenders in New York to verify their registration with the sex offender registry twice a year instead of annually.
Why it matters
Increases frequency of contact with law enforcement. By requiring sex offenders to verify their registration twice a year instead of once, the bill enhances regular monitoring and may make it harder for offenders to fall off the radar or provide outdated information.
Potentially improves public safety and registry accuracy. More frequent verification could help law enforcement maintain a more up-to-date and reliable sex offender registry, which is often used by schools, employers, and community members for safety decisions.
Raises compliance demands on offenders. The increased reporting requirement means more responsibilities for registered sex offenders, possibly deterring noncompliance but also raising the risk of technical violations for missing a verification deadline.
Impacts administrative workload. Doubling the frequency of verifications will require additional resources and coordination from law enforcement and registry administrators, potentially impacting budgets and staffing needs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Sex Offenders Verify Address Twice
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.
Twice-Yearly Sex Offender Checks
In Senate Committee · Crime Victims, Crime And Correction · Sponsor Susan Serino
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8579
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
September 13, 2019
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 requiring sex offenders to verify their registration with the sex offender registry on a biannual basis
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 168-b of the correction law, as added by chapter 192 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
4. The division shall, upon a different random date during each six month period of the calendar year, mail a nonforwardable verification form to the last reported address of the person for [annual] biannual verification requirements.
§ 2. 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 read as follows:
For a sex offender required to register under this article [on each anniversary of the sex offender's initial registration date] upon receipt of each randomly mailed biannual verification form during the period in which he is required to register under this section the following applies:
§ 3. 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 read as follows:
2. Every sex offender who on the effective date of this article is then on community supervision or probation for an offense provided for in subdivision two or three of section one hundred sixty-eight-a of this article shall within ten calendar days of such determination register with his parole or probation officer. [On each anniversary of] On and after the sex offender's initial registration date [thereafter], the provisions of section one hundred sixty-eight-f of this article shall be
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06744-01-9
A. 8579 2
deemed to apply to such offender. Any sex offender who fails or refuses to so comply shall be subject to the same penalties as otherwise provided for in this article which would be imposed upon a sex offender who fails or refuses to so comply with the provisions of this article on or after such effective date.
§ 4. 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 read as follows:
1. The duration of registration and verification for a sex offender who has not been designated a sexual predator, or a sexually violent offender, or a predicate sex offender, and who is classified as a level one risk, or who has not yet received a risk level classification, shall be [annually] biannually for a period of twenty years from the initial date of registration.
2. The duration of registration and verification for a sex offender who, on or after March eleventh, two thousand two, is designated a sexual predator, or a sexually violent offender, or a predicate sex offender, or who is classified as a level two or level three risk, shall be [annually] biannually for life. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a sex offender who is classified as a level two risk and who is not designated a sexual predator, a sexually violent offender or a predicate sex offender, may be relieved of the duty to register and verify as provided by subdivision one of section one hundred sixty-eight-o of this article.
§ 5. 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.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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