News from Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb
Assembly Office:
933 Legislative Office Building • Albany, NY 12248 • (518) 455-3751
District Offices:
607 West Washington Street • Suite 2 • Geneva, NY 14456 • (315) 781-2030
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For Release: IMMEDIATELY, May 9, 2017
Contact: Mike Fraser, office: (518) 455-3751/cell: (518) 859-8518
Kolb Criticizes Assembly Majority For Blocking Brittany's Law
"There Is No More Important Role Of Government Than To Protect Its Citizens. Today, Assembly Majority Members Failed In Their Responsibility To Do So."

Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C,I,Ref-Canandaigua) today criticized the Assembly Majority for blocking a vote on Brittany's Law, a measure that would create a statewide registry of violent felony offenders. While considering a number of bills addressing domestic violence, the Assembly Majority rejected an amendment containing Brittany's Law.

"There is no more important role of government than to protect its citizens. Today, Assembly Majority members failed in their responsibility to do so," Leader Kolb said. "The Assembly Majority decided to once again reject Brittany's Law, a common-sense public safety proposal that can reduce domestic violence and save lives. I am extremely disappointed at the Majority's continued failure to recognize the life-saving potential of the bill."

Brittany's Law has overwhelmingly passed the Senate seven times and has Majority sponsorship in the Assembly. If passed, it would help combat incidences of domestic violence, like that of Brittany Passalacqua, who was murdered along with her mother by John Edward Brown, a man previously jailed for assaulting his infant daughter.

In a recent letter, Leader Kolb conveyed to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie the importance of the bill as a way to combat domestic violence and protect victims of abuse.

"New York City currently has a registry of individuals who have abused animals, yet no such registry exists for violent felons who have abused women and children. That's unconscionable," Leader Kolb said. "A registry of violent offenders would empower New Yorkers with critical information about those living near their workplaces, schools and homes."