Senate Passes Package of Bills to Toughen Penalties for Sex Offenders

Albany, NY - The New York State Senate today announced the passage of six bills that would help keep communities safer from sexual predators. 

Senator Michael Ranzenhofer has sponsored legislation (S869) making it a crime for anyone to knowingly harbor, house, or employ a sex offender who has failed to register or verify residence or employment and fails to contact their local law enforcement agency.

“This legislation addresses the serious problem of dealing with those who protect convicted sex offenders who they know have not registered with the Division of Criminal Justice Services. Under the proposed bill, a person would be obligated to tell officials that a convicted offender is living with or working for them. I am pleased that this bill is moving through the legislative process,” said Ranzenhofer.

The Senate also passed the following:

• Senate Bill No. 2084 would prohibit a sexually violent or Level 3 sex offender who committed a crime against a child from being granted custody and unsupervised visitation with a child.  These sex offenders would remain ineligible unless they provide clear and convincing evidence that custody or visitation would benefit the child.

• Senate Bill No. 1608 would require reporting of multiple residences when a sex offender is living somewhere part-time. Under current law, offenders are only required to register their primary residence with the Division of Criminal Justice Services. The bill also requires the Division to develop a notification system to report offenders who have multiple residences.

• Senate Bill No. 396 would require the commissioner of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities to contact local officials and school superintendents when a sex offender is transferred to a community program or residence within their municipality.

• Senate Bill No. 833 would prohibit Level 3 sex offenders from living in student housing on college campuses and makes it a class A misdemeanor upon conviction of a first offense, and a class D felony upon conviction for a second or subsequent offense.

• Senate Bill No. 845 would establish a sex offender public awareness outreach program. This program would provide

        educational outreach to schools, community groups, and clergy on issues related to sex offenders.

The bills will be sent to the Assembly.

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