"I am hopeful that the remarks given today by Senate Majority Leader Bruno and Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro in support of civil confinement will help persuade the Speaker of the Assembly to finally bring this legislation to the floor for a vote before the end of session. The groundswell of support for this law, which would keep dangerous sexual predators off the streets, is a testament to its necessity. Far too often the women and children of this state become the targets of sexually violent criminals.

Assembly Minority members first proposed civil confinement legislation in 1993. Since then, the State Senate has overwhelmingly passed it eight times with bipartisan support and Governor Pataki has repeatedly indicated his support for the law. Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have adopted similar statutes and the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled it constitutional.

In New York State, the Assembly Majority has been and continues to be the only roadblock to this legislation becoming law, by refusing to even allow consideration of the measure by the full Assembly. On April 12 of this year, the Majority Members of the Assembly Mental Health Committee thwarted the latest Assembly Minority attempt to get the bill to the floor through the Motion to Discharge process by voting to "hold" the bill in committee. Minority Members of the Committee, Bob Barra and Matthew Mirones, however, voted in favor of bringing the legislation out of committee for a vote by the full body of the Assembly.

On two occasions earlier this year my Assembly Minority colleagues and I were joined by D.A. Pirro at events highlighting the need for action on civil confinement in the Assembly. I applaud her continued support. During the course of numerous other events sponsored by Assembly Minority members throughout the years, civil confinement has been touted by district attorneys, law enforcement officials and crime victims.

As we have for years, Assembly Minority members will continue to join the voices of victims, their families, and the law enforcement community in pushing for this legislation until it becomes law."