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S2586Senate2019-2020 Session

Ban Sex Offenders From Libraries

Official title

“Provides that certain sex offenders who are released on parole or sentenced to probation may not enter public, association or free libraries”

Sponsor Andrew J. LanzaSD-24Affects Public Safety & Consumer Affairs
Status
In Senate Committee
Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Impact
5/10
Moderate
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Crime Victims, Crime And Correction

What's happening

The bill prohibits certain sex offenders on parole or probation from entering public, association, or free libraries in New York.

Why it matters

  1. Expands existing restrictions on sex offenders. The bill adds public, association, and free libraries to the list of places that certain high-risk or child-targeting sex offenders on parole or probation are barred from entering, similar to schools and child care facilities.

  2. Affects access to key public resources. By including libraries, the bill limits access to important community spaces that provide free information, internet, educational programs, and social services, which could impact both rehabilitation opportunities for offenders and public perceptions of safety.

  3. Includes exceptions with oversight. Offenders may enter restricted libraries only with written permission from a supervising officer and the library's chief administrator, and only for specified, limited purposes—meaning the law allows for some flexibility in special circumstances.

  4. Reflects broader policy trends. This expansion of "child safety zones" highlights ongoing legislative efforts to balance public safety concerns with the civil liberties and reintegration prospects of individuals convicted of sex offenses.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Ban Sex Offenders From Libraries

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Andrew J. Lanza

Senator · Senate District 24

No co-sponsors yet.

History

  1. Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
  2. Referred to crime victims, crime and correction

Full text

3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

2586

2019-2020 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

January 28, 2019

Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction

AN ACT to amend the executive law and the penal law, in relation to preventing certain sex offenders who are released on parole or sentenced to probation from entering public, association or free libraries

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Subdivision 14 of section 259-c of the executive law, as amended by section 38-b of subpart A of part C of chapter 62 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:

14. notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, where a person serving a sentence for an offense defined in article one hundred thirty, one hundred thirty-five or two hundred sixty-three of the penal law or section 255.25, 255.26 or 255.27 of the penal 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, is released on parole or conditionally released pursuant to subdivision one or two of this section, the board shall require, as a mandatory condition of such release, 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 the penal law, or any public library, association library or free library, as defined in subdivision two of section two hundred fifty-three of the education law, 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 institu-

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD07346-01-9

S. 2586 2

tion or entity contracting therewith or has a family member enrolled in such facility or institution, such sentenced offender may, with the written authorization of his or her parole officer 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 parole officer 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.

§ 2. 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 public library, association library or free library, as defined in subdivision two of section two hundred fifty-three of the education law, 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 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

S. 2586 3

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.

§ 3. 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 executive law and the penal law, in relation to preventing certain sex offenders who are released on parole or sentenced to probation from entering public, association or free libraries

Purpose

Provides that certain sex offenders who are released on parole or sentenced to probation may not enter public, association or free libraries.

Summary of provisions

Section one amends subdivision 14 of section 259-C of the executive law as amended by section 38-b of subpart A of part C of chapter 62 of the laws of 2011 to state that where a person serving a sentence for an offense defined in article one hundred thirty, one hundred thirty five ox two hundred sixty three of the penal 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, is released on parole or conditionally released pursuant to subdivision one or two of this section, the board shall require, 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 the penal law, or any public library, association library or free library, as defined in subdivision two of section two hundred fifty-three of the education law.

Read the full memo (657 words)

Section two amends Subdivision 4-a of section 65.10 of the penal law as amended by chapter 67 of the laws of 2008 stating the mandatory condi- tions for sex offenders.

Section three is the effective date.

Justification

Libraries are a place that families can bring their children to learn and to participate in community activities. Parents should not have to worry about their safety and the safety of their children. This measure is necessary because it would prohibit a sex offender from entering a library where they could use a public computer with Internet access to communicate with children or adults with the intention to do harm. Another example why this bill is necessary, in 2008, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a Level 3 sex offender sexually assaulted a six year old boy in the magazine aisle while his mother was using one of the libraries computers. The predator took the victim into a quiet corner of the library room and raped him. In 2001, this Level III suspect pleaded guilty to indecent assault and battery upon a child under fourteen-years of age. He spent four years in prison. Prior to his release, police said three experts told a judge that he was still sexually dangerous and should remain beyond bars. Nonetheless the judge released him into soci- ety. This bill is necessary because current state law prohibits a Level III sex offender who is released on parole or conditionally released and who committed their crime against a person under 18 years of age, from knowingly entering into or upon any school grounds or facilities or institutions that are primarily used for the care or treatment of persons under the age of eighteen. This legislation would add libraries to the list of places that sex offenders cannot enter where children under the age of eighteen congregate. This bill is necessary to protect our children from being harmed by a sex offender. Our libraries should be a safe haven for families not sexual predators.

Legislative history

2018: S.6189 - Passed Senate

2017: S.6189 - Passed Senate

2016: S.4514 - Passed Senate

2015: S.4514 - Passed Senate

2014: S.2459 - Passed Senate

2013: S.2459 - Passed Senate

2012: S.3744-A - Passed Senate

2011: S.3744 - Passed Senate

2010: S.728 - Referred to Crime Victims, Crime & Correction/A.2944 - Referred to Codes

2009: S.728 - Referred to Crime Victims, Crime & Correction/A.2944 - Referred to Codes

2008: S.6907 - Passed Senate / A.10375 - Referred to Codes

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.