Assemblyman Joseph M. Giglio (R,C,I-Gowanda), Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua) and several of their peers held a press conference today to introduce legislation extending the period between parole hearings from two to five years. The bill is colloquially titled Ramona’s Law.

Ramona Bantle-Fahy, a survivor of a violent sexual assault in 1992, is currently confronted with facing her attacker in order to testify at parole hearings every 24 months to ensure he stays in prison. Ramona’s Law would eliminate the need for her to face this experience every 24 months and move it to up to five years.

“I am very pleased to introduce this bill with Leader Kolb,” Giglio said. “Ramona’s Law addresses the concerns of a group of people whose voices have not been heard in a long time. Victims and families of victims should not be forced to relive, every two years, the pain of what they experienced. Together we can help alleviate some of their pain and assist survivors to heal and grow.”