Statement From Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos

The legislation submitted by Governor Paterson to strengthen New York’s sex offender registry includes proposals that I sponsored and the Senate passed repeatedly, with Democrat support, since the original sex offender registry was created by Megan’s Law in 1995.

The proposals in the Governor’s legislation will give law enforcement the resources they need to track and properly punish sex offenders who violate the registry law, and provide the most up-to-date information needed to protect our families from dangerous criminals.

These proposals were passed previously in the Senate with bipartisan support, but were stopped dead in their tracks by the Assembly. However, since taking control last year, Senate Democrats have done nothing to continue to advance measures that would strengthen our sex offender registry. 

I urge Senator Sampson to bring the Governor’s bill to the floor for a vote as soon as possible, and for the Assembly to join us in passing these important measures. 

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