Prohibits any sex offender from residing within a quarter mile of any school, playground, park or building in which child day care is provided.
Summary
This bill would create a new statewide residency restriction for sex offenders, prohibiting them from living within 1,350 feet (about a quarter mile) of any school, playground, park, or building where child day care is provided. The restriction would apply for as long as the person remains classified as a sex offender, and the bill defines “school” broadly to include public, private, parochial, intermediate, junior high, vocational, and high schools.
The bill also requires the state to notify affected individuals of the restriction at key points in the criminal justice process. The Division of Criminal Justice Services would have to advise registrants of the rule when they initially register and in annual correspondence. Parole authorities and probation officers would also have to provide written and oral notice when the restriction applies. The bill further amends penalty provisions so that violating the new residency rule would be a class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a class D felony for repeat offenses, and it would apply only to sex offenders convicted or released on or after the effective date.
Impact
The bill would amend the correction law, executive law, and penal law to add and enforce a new sex-offender residency restriction in New York. It would create a new section of the correction law establishing the 1,350-foot exclusion zone, renumber the existing residency-related section, and expand notification duties for the state, parole, and probation officials. It would also increase criminal exposure for noncompliance by tying violations to misdemeanor and felony penalties, and it could affect parole or probation status through existing revocation mechanisms.
Sentiment
The bill text and available context suggest a punitive, public-safety-oriented approach, with the sponsor seeking to impose stricter housing limits around places where children are present. No committee transcript or vote record is available here, so there is no documented debate or recorded support/opposition in the provided materials. Based on the bill’s structure, the general sentiment appears to favor stronger restrictions on sex offenders rather than a balanced regulatory adjustment.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely to be the breadth and practical effect of the residency ban. Supporters would view the measure as a child-protection and community-safety tool, while opponents may argue that a quarter-mile exclusion zone is overly broad, could sharply limit available housing, and may create enforcement and reentry challenges without clearly improving safety. Another likely issue is the bill’s application to offenders for as long as they remain classified as sex offenders, which could be seen as especially restrictive and potentially difficult to comply with in densely populated areas.
Same As
Prohibits any sex offender from residing within a quarter mile of any school, playground, park or building in which child day care is provided.
Requires local government notification of sex offender registration and prohibits sex offenders from living near schools, child care centers or playgrounds.
Requires local government notification of sex offender registration and prohibits sex offenders from living near schools, child care centers or playgrounds.
Relating to prohibiting sex offenders from residing or loitering within a certain distance of certain locations where children commonly gather and from participating in certain Halloween activities; creating a criminal offense.