Bill would alert residents of sex offenders by e-mail

By JAMES T. MADORE
May 19, 2009

ALBANY

The State Senate Tuesday unanimously approved a bill creating a system for residents to receive e-mail alerts when some convicted sex offenders move into the neighborhood.

The bill now moves to the Assembly, where it is before the Corrections Committee. Similar measures have been introduced in recent years but have never made it out of committees.

The legislation, from Sen. Jeffrey Klein (D-Bronx) and Assemb. Rory Lancman (D- Fresh Meadows), builds on an existing e-mail notification system from the Homeland Security Department that warns of emergencies, such as hurricanes. Residents now would be able to sign up for alerts about the residency of convicted Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders, those considered the most dangerous.

The notifications would be based on a registry from the Criminal Justice Services Division. Offenders are required to notify the division of their whereabouts periodically, but police are often too busy to notify community leaders.

"This allows parents and others to know who lives in their community," said Klein, the bill's chief sponsor. He added residents would be able to receive alerts on up to three ZIP codes.

New York State has nearly 11,500 Level 2 and Level 3 offenders, with 221 in Nassau and 452 in Suffolk.

E-mail alerts already are provided statewide by Parents for Megan's Law, a Stony Brook-based advocacy group.

The unanimity in the Senate was rare and fleeting. Minutes earlier, Democrats defeated a Republican amendment to increase the penalty for offenders who fail to register. The amendment, based on a bill from Sen. Dean Skelos (R- Rockville Centre), twice passed the Senate.

Of the amendment, Sen. Kenneth LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) said, "We're trying to strengthen a good bill."

By BY JAMES T. MADORE
Posted Monday, June 22, 2009

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