Nozzolio To Hold Senate Hearing To Strengthen Megans Law

Albany – Commemorating the 10th anniversary of Megan’s Law, State Senator Michael F. Nozzolio (R-Fayette) is hosting a public hearing tomorrow, May 3, to determine the best way to strengthen Megan’s Law to protect more children, ensure that people are better informed about the presence of sex offenders in their community and to impose stronger punishment on sexual predators to prevent them from preying on innocent victims.

Maureen Kanka, mother of Megan Kanka - the victim for whom the law is named, will be the first person to testify at the hearing in Albany.

“Strengthening the notification provisions of Megan’s law will help keep our communities safer from individuals who prey on women and children,” said Senator Nozzolio, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections. “Loopholes in the current law have allowed sex offenders to live undetected and it is critical that we strengthen Megan’s law and help ensure children are kept out of harm’s way.”

Those scheduled to testify are:
● Maureen Kanka – Megan Nicole Kanka Foundation
● Terry Brewer – Superintendent of East Greenbush Central School District
● Denise Baylor – Resident of Shortsville, Megan’s law advocate
● Janet Schumann – Resident of Macedon, Megan’s law advocate
● Dave Meager – Supervisor of the Town of Malta
● Patrick O’Flynn – Monroe County Sheriff
● Farris Heimann – Wyoming County Sheriff
● Chauncey Parker – Director of the NYS Department of Criminal Justice Services
● Bob Newman – Attorney for the Legal Aid Society
● Al O’Connor – Attorney for the NYS Defenders Association, Inc.

The Senate Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections, chaired by Senator Nozzolio, is holding the hearing to solicit the participation of law enforcement, educators and school officials, parents, advocates and others regarding a variety of issues including:

● Lifetime registration of sex offenders to prevent convicted predators from going “off the books”;
● Global positioning system tracking of sexual predators;
● Mandatory community notification to help ensure parents know when a sex offender is living in their neighborhood;
● Civil commitment of sexually violent predators after they’ve completed their prison sentence, to protect the public from criminals likely to commit repeated acts of sexual violence; and
● Posting of information for all levels of registered sex offenders on the Department of Criminal Justice Services web site.

People are invited to send written testimony to be included into the final report for the hearing. Written testimony should be sent to Senator Nozzolio’s office at the following address:

Senator Nozzolio
Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee
Room 409-Legislative Office Building
Albany, New York 12247

In 1995, Senator Nozzolio was instrumental in the enactment of Megan’s Law which created the registered sex offender list in New York State. Maureen Kanka’s advocacy and involvement in the legislative process ten years ago were instrumental in its enactment.

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