Sen. Savino Introduces Bill To Further Protect Children From Sexual Abuse

“We know that children who are molested by a parent or guardian are much more traumatized than if they’d been assaulted by a stranger. We tell children to be wary of strangers and yet we are doing very little to protect them from their abusers right at home,” said Senator Savino.

“It is a glaring injustice to a group of victims who simply cannot fend for themselves. They are being victimized by both their supposed guardians and a by a dysfunctional legislature that is indifferent to their suffering,” she added.

While other legislators have eagerly sought to close this loophole, Senator Savino believes that this bill will address the underlying issue once and for all, by holding all sexual offenders accountable, regardless of whether or not they are related to their victims. Ms. Savino’s bill will change the classification of incest from a Class E felony, to a Class B felony, punishable by 5 to 25 years of incarceration.

“It’s infuriating to know that similar bills have died because of the dysfunction in Albany.”

Senator Savino, aMinority memberin theMajority controlled-Senate, fully expects to have complete bi-partisan support of all of New York’s elected officials.

The majority of Minority-sponsored bills are notoriously and indefinitely kept hidden in committees, even if there is widespread support for the idea.

“There is too much posturing about our need to reform our legislature. If we are serious about truly changing the way we do business here in Albany—how about we start with changing a law that allows children to be continuously abused at the hands of their supposed protectors? Allowing this to continue is quite frankly, just as abusive,” said Senator Savino.

“I call upon my colleagues to pass this bill immediately and for Governor Pataki to sign it into law. Extending protection to a group of children who are in desperate need of protection is the first step in true reform. I say, ‘put your money where your mouth is,’” she added.