NEW LEGISLATION NEEDED TO MAINTAIN STRICT SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY, SAFE COMMUNITY

Today, Assemblyman Andrew Raia joined his colleagues in introducing legislation, which he co-

Raia

sponsors, to maintain the safety of our communities.

The bill (A.8503) would increase the amount of time a level one sex offender would be required to remain on the sex offender registry by 10 years and allow local governments to continue to enforce restrictions on where offenders can reside.

“Sex offenders and the very serious threats they pose, specifically to our children, have been the subject of prior legislative efforts,” said Raia. “We have successfully tracked and restricted sex offenders to keep our communities protected and aware.”

As of early 2016, over 1,000 level one sex offenders reached the twenty-year registration requirement and have been removed from the list. Additionally, the New York State Court of Appeals has overturned local laws deemed too restrictive in relation to registered sex offenders and their places of residence.

“I take tremendous pride in co-sponsoring this bill, which would protect our communities and loved ones from known predators,” said Raia. “This bill couldn’t come at a more critical time, as the registry requirement went into effect twenty years ago. Additional factors have also come into play, as the Court of Appeals has made it nearly impossible for local governments to take matters into their own hands.

“Doing all we can to keep our communities safe and informed is our responsibility, and this bill goes to great lengths to do just that.”