What's happening
This bill establishes a temporary ban on placing registered sex offenders in group homes for people with developmental disabilities while a safety study is conducted.
Why it matters
Prioritizes safety concerns. The bill responds to worries about potential risks to people with developmental disabilities by halting the placement of registered sex offenders in group homes, underscoring a focus on resident safety and well-being.
Mandates a thorough risk assessment. It requires a comprehensive study involving multiple state agencies to evaluate both the physical and mental health dangers, as well as other implications, of allowing registered sex offenders in such residences.
Seeks better policy alternatives. The legislation directs state agencies to investigate and report on any practicable alternatives to current placement practices, potentially shaping future policy for how vulnerable populations and sex offenders are housed.
Signals possible long-term changes. By tying the end of the moratorium to the completion and review of the safety study, the bill could pave the way for lasting changes in how group homes for people with developmental disabilities are managed and who can be placed there.
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Who cares
Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
The bill would halt its placement of registered sex offenders in residences for individuals with developmental disabilities until it reports findings and recommendations to the governor and legislature.
Individuals with developmental disabilities living in residential placements
The required study would examine potential dangers to their physical and mental health from placing registered sex offenders in their residences.
Registered sex offenders seeking OPWDD residential placement
The moratorium would bar these placements while the study examines their implications and practicable alternatives.
Department of Mental Hygiene and Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
The bill would require both departments to cooperate with OPWDD on the comprehensive study.
Headline styles
Pause Sex Offender Placements
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 111
History
- Referred to mental health
- Referred to mental health
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1136
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Mental Health
AN ACT establishing a moratorium on the placement of registered sex offenders by the office for people with developmental disabilities in residential placements for individuals with developmental disabilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Moratorium on the placement of registered sex offenders in residential placements for individuals with developmental disabilities. 1. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, there is hereby established a moratorium on the placement by the office for people with developmental disabilities of registered sex offenders, pursuant to article 6-C of the correction law, in any residential placement for individuals with developmental disabilities. The moratorium shall continue in existence until the office for people with developmental disabilities reports to the governor and the legislature on its findings and recommendations as required by subdivision 2 of this section.
2. The office for people with developmental disabilities, in cooperation with the department of mental hygiene and the department of corrections and community supervision, shall conduct a comprehensive study to determine: (i) the dangers to the physical and mental health of current developmentally disabled residents that may result from the placement of registered sex offenders in such residences; (ii) any other possible implications of placing registered sex offenders in such residences; and (iii) whether there are any other practicable alternatives to such placements.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03435-01-5
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.