First State Terrorist Registry In The Nation

Media Contacts: 

Christine Geed, Communications Specialist

geed@nysenate.gov or (631) 398-8044

Jennifer Romero, Press Secretary

romero@nysenate.gov or (631) 513-5657

 PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

For Immediate Release

The New York State Senate is the first legislative body in the United States to consecutively pass legislation creating a Terrorist Registry, sponsored by Senator Thomas D. Croci (R-Sayville), Chair of the New York State Senate Committee on Homeland Security, Veterans and Military Affairs, and Assemblyman Michael DenDekker (D-Jackson Heights).  The Senate approved the measure for the second year in a bipartisan vote (Senate bill S3464C;/Assembly bill A6129C).

“The deterioration of the security situation overseas and the growing number of attacks at home, including the barbaric attack this week in Orlando, it is clear we are under attack.   Law enforcement and New Yorkers are not being unreasonable in demanding convicted terrorists be registered,” said Senator Croci. “CNN reported last year that FBI Director James Comey asked state and local law enforcement to help the FBI keep tabs on hundreds of individuals.  We must give our police and law enforcement agencies every tool we can.  We should know if the person living next door is a convicted terrorist.

This legislation would:

-Create the NYS Terrorist Registry, which is based on New York’s highly successful Sex Offender Registration Act, and will allow our state and local law enforcement to monitor any terrorist residing, working or attending an educational institution in our state.

-Require individuals convicted of terrorism to be added to the registry by the Division of Criminal Justice Services. DCJS will create and publicize the registry list, making only non-confidential information available to the public and confidential information only available to certain government agencies such as the state police and NYS Homeland Security.

-Change the current law to allow for local and state law enforcement to monitor individuals who have been convicted of a state or federal crime of terrorism, or who have committed a verifiable act of terrorism outside our state.

-Require individuals convicted of terrorism to register with local authorities when moving to a new residence.

-Make noncompliance of registration a class A-1 felony for those convicted of terrorism.

This bill was drafted in response to the identified need for a centralized state tracking system to assist law enforcement agencies with monitoring the individuals associated with carrying out domestic and foreign terrorist threats, as evidenced by the surge in homegrown acts of terror and the growing recruitment of terrorist sympathizers by terrorist groups such as ISIS. The need for this legislation is further demonstrated by the FBI’s recent appeal for assistance from local law enforcement and the public in helping to keep track of suspected terrorists and the continuing terror attacks on innocent American citizens.

The bill will be sent to the Assembly.

All media inquiries should be directed to Senator Croci’s Communications Specialist, Christine Geed at (631) 398-8044 (call or text) or via email at geed@nysenate.gov. Inquiries for additional information should be directed to Senator Croci’s Press Secretary, Jennifer Romero at (631) 513-5657 or via email at jromero@nysenate.gov

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