Assemblyman Phil Ramos (D-Central Islip) announced that the Assembly passed legislation to allow citizens to receive automatic e-mail notifications about the presence of Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders in their community (A.1242-B).

“This bill allows all New York State residents to sign up with the Division of Criminal Justice Services to receive automatic e-mail notifications when a registered sex offender moves into their neighborhood” Assemblyman Ramos said. “With the current law, all concerned residents must continually check the online offender registry (http://www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us/nsor/search_index.htm) for any updates or new sexual offenders in their area. But who has the time, that’s why this e-mail alert system makes sense.”

This legislation provides residents with a consistent way of acquire information about registered Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders who are in their neighborhoods. Residents will be able to request e-mail updates for up to three counties or zip codes, and the service will be free of charge.

“E-mail notifications would allow families to keep tabs on sex offenders who live in and around Islip in a convenient and hassle-free way,” Ramos said. “The more information that can be shared the better. This simplification will give families even simpler access to information about sex offenders in their community, which in turn will help them to keep their children safe.”

Assemblyman Ramos also noted that the passage of this bill builds on the Assembly’s record of keeping New York’s families safe:

• Luring Law — Creates the crime of luring a child into a motor vehicle, building or isolated area with the intent of committing any violent felony or felony sex offense – luring a child is a class E felony (Ch. 405 of 2008).
• Revokes licenses of teachers guilty of sex crimes — Provides for the automatic revocation of a teaching license or certificate held by any teacher – including teaching assistants, school counselors, social workers and psychologists, school administrators, supervisors or superintendents of schools – convicted of a sex offense (Ch. 296 of 2008).
• e-STOP — The Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators Act prevents sexual predators from victimizing children on Internet social networking sites by prohibiting sex offenders from using the Internet for inappropriate reasons (Ch. 67 of 2008).
• Megan’s Law — Requires the Division of Criminal Justice Services to expand the sex offender Internet posting to include Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders (Ch.106 of 2006).

“Nothing is more important that the safety and well being of our loved ones.” said Ramos, “and I will continue doing all I can to ensure law enforcement and families have the tools they need to keep our loved ones safe.”