Requires nonresident visitor sex offenders and registered sex offenders register when temporarily residing within the state; requires short-term rental hosts and short-term rental hosting platforms inform nearby property owners when nonresident visitor sex offenders and registered sex offenders are staying in the unit.
This bill expands New York’s sex offender registration rules to cover two related situations: nonresident visitor sex offenders temporarily staying in the state, and any sex offender staying at a temporary residence. It defines a “nonresident visitor” as a person required to register as a sex offender in another jurisdiction who is temporarily residing in New York, regardless of the length of stay. Such individuals would have to register with the Division of Criminal Justice Services within ten calendar days after beginning a temporary stay, and report changes in address or length of stay.
The bill also adds a new requirement that sex offenders staying at temporary residences notify the owner, host, or hosting platform at least ten days before the stay, unless the residence is a short-term rental unit. For short-term rentals, the bill creates a separate disclosure and notice regime: online listings would have to display the property’s full street address, a link to the relevant sex offender registry or sheriff’s registry website, a link to state sex offender registry laws, and a warning statement about registration requirements. Hosts or platforms would also have to notify nearby property owners within 1,000 feet at least 24 hours before a sex offender or nonresident visitor sex offender arrives, including the length of stay.
The bill would amend the Correction Law and the General Business Law, adding a new category of registrant and creating a new section governing sex offender stays in short-term rental units. It would affect the Division of Criminal Justice Services, local law enforcement, short-term rental hosts, hosting platforms, and property owners near the rental location. Violations of the short-term rental provisions could result in fines, suspension, or revocation of a rental license where applicable.
Overall sentiment in the available materials appears to be precautionary and public-safety oriented, with the bill framed as a notification and registration measure rather than a punitive criminal penalty. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no direct evidence of support or opposition in the legislative record included here. The structure of the bill suggests an emphasis on community notice and registry compliance, which may appeal to proponents of transparency and neighborhood safety.
Potential points of contention are likely to center on privacy, stigma, and the burden placed on short-term rental hosts and platforms. Requiring disclosure to nearby property owners and adding prominent registry warnings to rental listings could be viewed as intrusive or as discouraging lawful housing access for registered individuals. Another likely issue is the breadth of the temporary-residence reporting requirement, including the ten-day advance notice rule and the application to visitors from other jurisdictions, which may raise administrative and enforcement concerns.
The bill would amend the Correction Law to create a new category of “nonresident visitor” sex offender and expand registration obligations for sex offenders temporarily residing in New York. It would also amend the General Business Law by adding a new section regulating short-term rental units, imposing listing disclosures, neighbor-notification duties, and potential licensing penalties for noncompliance. The practical effect would be to increase reporting, public notice, and registry-related obligations for sex offenders, hosts, and hosting platforms, while giving law enforcement and nearby property owners more advance information about such stays.
No committee discussion or vote history is provided, so there is no recorded legislative debate to measure. Based on the bill text alone, the measure is presented in a public-safety and transparency frame, suggesting a generally protective intent. The absence of recorded opposition or amendments in the supplied materials means sentiment cannot be assessed beyond the bill’s apparent emphasis on notification and compliance.
Likely contention would focus on the balance between public safety and privacy. Supporters would likely emphasize community notification, registry enforcement, and the need to track temporary stays by registered sex offenders, especially in short-term rentals. Opponents or critics may argue that the bill imposes broad disclosure requirements on hosts and platforms, risks public shaming, and could create administrative burdens or overreach by requiring notice to neighboring property owners and prominent warnings in rental advertisements.