Bonacic: Senate Advances Bill Requiring Lifetime

State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/I/C - Mount Hope) voted in favor of strengthening the State's Sex Offender Registration Laws citing protecting New Yorkers as one of his top priorities.

"The passage of today's legislation respresents the Senate's commitment to protect families. It will ensure parents, guardians, and law enforcement officials have the necessary tools and information to keep our families safe," Senator Bonacic.

Senator Bonacic said that at the end of this month, 226 convicted sex offenders will no longer be on the sex offender registry. "226 people who can prey on our family members and who have done so in the past, will be able to live in our communities without anyone's knowledge," stated Senator Bonacic. "Furthermore, during the next year, 3,579 sex offenders are scheduled to be eliminated from the registry. This is appalling!"

"The Assembly is planning to take action on a bill that simply extends the date that sex offenders drop off the registry until March 31, 2007. This is unacceptable. Our responsibility as lawmakers is to enact visionary and permanent policy solutions to protect our families and hold criminals accountable for their actions. The Assembly appears to be putting off its responsibility to New Yorkers," continued Senator Bonacic.

Senator Bonacic concluded, "I was pleased to vote in favor of this important measure designed to provide the necessary knowledge to keep our families safe. It is my hope the Assembly enacts this bill before convicted sex offenders will be free to blend into society unnoticed. How many more women and children must die before the Assembly acts?"