Senator Kathy Marchione’s legislation that would protect students and make college campuses safer passes the State Senate

Senator Kathy Marchione’s legislation that would protect students and make college campuses safer passes the State Senate

Senator Marchione’s bi-partisan legislation strengthens the “Campus Safety Act,” requires all violent felonies and missing persons be reported to local law enforcement within 24 hours after being reported to a college or university

Senator Kathleen A. Marchione (R,C-Halfmoon) today announced that her bi-partisan legislation that would help protect students and make college and university campuses safer by requiring the accurate, timely reporting of violent felony crimes taking place on college and university campuses has again passed the Senate.

Senator Marchione’s bi-partisan legislation – Senate Bill S.2753B – strengthens the “Campus Safety Act of 1999” by requiring that all violent felonies and missing persons be reported to local law enforcement within 24 hours after being reported to a college or university. The legislation, unanimously approved during today’s Senate Session, also has an Assembly companion, Assembly Bill A.2089B, sponsored by Democratic Assemblyman Edward Braunstein (D-26^th District). The Assembly version was passed on May 5. The bill’s passage in both houses significantly increases its chances of becoming State Law this year.

Senator Marchione’s bi-partisan legislation was featured in a June 6 story written by Associated Press reporter Josefa Velasquez that received national circulation. Senator Marchione’s bill also was the subject of a positive editorial that ran in today’s Times Union titled “End the Campus Secrets.”

“In memory of Suzanne Lyall, and recognition of her parent’s Doug and Mary’s courageous, tireless advocacy on this issue, and for any individual who has been the victim of a violent crime on a campus, or gone missing from a campus, we must do everything we can to make our colleges and universities as safe as possible. This means ensuring that violent crimes are reported swiftly to local law enforcement. My bill is a common sense solution intended to protect students and make our college and university campuses safer. By strengthening the Campus Safety Act, this bi-partisan legislation ensures that any crimes committed on a college campus are promptly, and accurately, reported to local law enforcement to ensure perpetrators are punished, victims are protected and can see justice. I was proud to partner with Assemblyman Braunstein and work in a bi-partisan fashion to pass this important bill,” Senator Marchione said.

“Mary and I have been, and continue to be, vitally interested in the cause of campus safety. Our mission, and our duty, is to do whatever we can to increase campus safety. This legislation – and hopefully law – will take the next step toward increasing campus safety to ensure that students are as safe as possible. Certainly, most college campuses are not equipped to deal with serious crimes and missing person’s cases. Delays are the enemy and time is of the essence when a crime or missing person case takes place, so this bi-partisan legislation is vital to ensure investigations take place in a timely and effective manner,” said Doug Lyall.

Enacted in 1999, the Campus Safety Act requires colleges and universities to adopt and implement plans for the notification to local law enforcement of any violent felony offense or missing person occurring at or on the grounds of each such institution. The Campus Safety Act requires that plans be created, and not that colleges and universities must report violent felonies and missing persons to local law enforcement. The Campus Safety Act became law because of the tireless efforts of Doug and Mary Lyall, whose daughter, Suzanne Lyall, has been missing since disappearing from the University at Albany on March 2, 1998.

Senator Marchione’s bi-partisan legislation does not conflict with the federal Campus Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights, which gives the victim of a sexual offense the right on whether or not to report such offense to local law enforcement agencies.

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