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S3182Senate2019-2020 SessionSame asA4479

Notify Parents of Sex Offenders

Official title

“Requires school districts, upon notification from law enforcement agencies, to notify residents of sex offenders living in the district”

Sponsor Kenneth P. LaValleSD-1Affects Public Safety & Consumer Affairs
Status
In Senate Committee
Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Impact
6/10
Moderate
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Crime Victims, Crime And Correction

What's happening

This bill requires school districts to notify parents about registered sex offenders in their district and reimburses related mailing costs.

Why it matters

  1. Shifts responsibility to school districts. The bill requires district superintendents or chief school administrators to directly notify every parent or guardian of a student when law enforcement receives information about moderate- or high-risk sex offenders living in the district. This represents a significant administrative and communication burden for schools.

  2. Potential impact on parent awareness and community vigilance. By ensuring all parents are informed, the bill could increase parental vigilance and potentially influence how families interact with their community, commute routes, or after-school activities.

  3. State financial support for implementation. The bill mandates state reimbursement to school districts for the mailing costs associated with these notifications, recognizing the additional expense and attempting to prevent these requirements from straining local school budgets.

  4. Raises privacy and safety debates. The legislation could spark discussions about the balance between community safety, individual privacy rights of offenders who have served their sentences, and the potential for stigmatization or unintended consequences from broad parental notification.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Notify Parents of Sex Offenders

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

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Kenneth P. LaValle

Senator · Senate District 1

No co-sponsors yet.

History

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

A4479Assembly

Alert Parents on Sex Offenders

In Assembly Committee · Correction · Sponsor Fred Thiele

Impact 6 · Moderate0% to pass

Full text

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

STATE OF NEW YORK

S. 3182 A. 4479

2019-2020 Regular Sessions

SENATE - ASSEMBLY

February 4, 2019

IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- 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, RAIA, GOTTFRIED -- read once and referred to the Committee on Correction

AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to required notification by school districts of sex offender residence; and to amend the education law, in relation to apportionment to school districts for certain expenses related to sex offender notification

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

Section 1. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subdivision 6 of section 168-l of the correction law, paragraph (b) as amended by chapter 513 of the laws of 2011 and paragraph (c) as separately amended by chapters 318 and 680 of the laws of 2005, are amended to read as follows:

(b) If the risk of repeat offense is moderate, a level two designation shall be given to such sex offender. In such case the law enforcement agency or agencies having jurisdiction and the law enforcement agency or agencies having had jurisdiction at the time of his or her conviction shall be notified and may disseminate relevant information which shall include a photograph and description of the offender and which may include the exact name and any aliases used by the sex offender, exact address, background information including the offender's crime of conviction, mode of operation, type of victim targeted, the name and address of any institution of higher education at which the sex offender is enrolled, attends, is employed or resides and the description of special conditions imposed on the offender to any entity with vulnerable populations related to the nature of the offense committed by such sex offender. Any entity receiving information on a sex offender may disclose or further disseminate such information at its discretion,

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

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD03162-01-9

S. 3182 2 A. 4479

provided, however, that school districts, upon receipt of such information by the district superintendent or chief school administrator, shall disseminate such information to the person or persons in parental relation, as defined in subdivision ten of section two of the education law, of each of its students within such school district. In addition, in such case, the information described [herein] in this section shall also be provided in the subdirectory established in this article and notwithstanding any other provision of law, such information shall, upon request, be made available to the public.

Such law enforcement agencies shall compile, maintain and update a listing of vulnerable organizational entities within its jurisdiction. Such listing shall be utilized for notification of such organizations in disseminating such information on level two sex offenders pursuant to this paragraph. Such listing shall include and not be limited to: superintendents of schools or chief school administrators, superintendents of parks, public and private libraries, public and private school bus transportation companies, day care centers, nursery schools, preschools, neighborhood watch groups, community centers, civic associations, nursing homes, victim's advocacy groups and places of worship.

(c) If the risk of repeat offense is high and there exists a threat to the public safety a level three designation shall be given to such sex offender. In such case, the law enforcement agency or agencies having jurisdiction and the law enforcement agency or agencies having had jurisdiction at the time of his or her conviction shall be notified and may disseminate relevant information which shall include a photograph and description of the offender and which may include the sex offender's exact name and any aliases used by the offender, exact address, address of the offender's place of employment, background information including the offender's crime of conviction, mode of operation, type of victim targeted, the name and address of any institution of higher education at which the sex offender is enrolled, attends, is employed or resides and the description of special conditions imposed on the offender to any entity with vulnerable populations related to the nature of the offense committed by such sex offender. Any entity receiving information on a sex offender may disclose or further disseminate such information at its discretion, provided, however, that school districts, upon receipt of such information by the district superintendent or chief school administrator, shall disseminate such information to the person or persons in parental relation, as defined in subdivision ten of section two of the education law, of each of its students within such school district. In addition, in such case, the information described [herein] in this section shall also be provided in the subdirectory established in this article and notwithstanding any other provision of law, such information shall, upon request, be made available to the public.

Such law enforcement agencies shall compile, maintain and update a listing of vulnerable organizational entities within its jurisdiction. Such listing shall be utilized for notification of such organizations in disseminating such information on level three sex offenders pursuant to this paragraph. Such listing shall include and not be limited to: superintendents of schools or chief school administrators, superintendents of parks, public and private libraries, public and private school bus transportation companies, day care centers, nursery schools, preschools, neighborhood watch groups, community centers, civic associations, nursing homes, victim's advocacy groups and places of worship.

§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 3605 to read as follows:

S. 3182 3 A. 4479

§ 3605. Apportionment for certain mailing expenses. The commissioner shall apportion funds to reimburse school districts for monies expended in the mailing of notices to the person or persons in parental relation, as defined in subdivision ten of section two of this chapter, of each of its students regarding the presence of registered sex offenders within such school districts.

§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law, and shall apply to expenses incurred by school districts after such effective date.

Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.

Sponsor's memo

Title of bill

An act to amend the correction law, in relation to required notification by school districts of sex offender residence; and to amend the education law, in relation to apportionment to school districts for certain expenses related to sex offender notification

Purpose

This bill would require that a school district shall distribute informa- tion on sex offenders residing within the school district to the parents of its students.

Summary of provisions

Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subdivision 6 of section 168-1 of the correction law, paragraph (b) as amended by chapter 513 of the laws of 2011 and paragraph (c) as separately amended by chapters 318 and 680 of the laws of 2005, are amended.

Justification

Megan's Law requires level two and level three sex offenders resister with local law enforcement agencies, who may distribute information including the offenders name, picture, address, location of employment and background information.

This legislation would require a school district, upon receiving this information from law enforcement officials, to distribute the informa- tion to the parents of its students.

The rate of recidivism among sex offenders is very high, as such, it is important that the public is aware of any dangerous offenders who may be living in their neighborhood. The information is currently available to the public, but many parents are not aware of this, or do not know where to look to find the information. Sending the offenders' profiles to the parents in the school district provides an extra assurance that each household has the invaluable information that could protect their chil- dren from dangerous predators.

This legislation provides funding to reimburse the school districts for their costs related to complying with this requirement.

Legislative history

2017-18 S.1599/A.937; 2015-16 S.22/A.201; 2013-14 S.1764/A.1220; 2011-12 S.1449C; 2009-10 S.1176; 2007-08, S.7819.

Fiscal implications

Minimal.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law, and shall apply to expenses incurred by school districts after such effective date.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.