Assemblyman David G. McDonough (R,I,C-Merrick) and his Assembly minority colleagues are launching a statewide petition drive designed to force Assembly majority to act on civil confinement legislation and strengthen Megan’s Law in an effort to further protect New York’s children from dangerous sexual predators.

"It is the responsibility of government to ensure the safety of all of its citizens, and this legislation would provide parents and law enforcement with the tools they need to accomplish that," said McDonough during a press conference held to announce the initiatives. McDonough is vice chair of the Assembly Minority Task Force on Sex Crimes Against Children and Women, known as S.A.V.E.-NY.

"Preventing sexual predators from living near places where children learn and play is just plain common sense, and so are the other proposals we are advancing," said McDonough. "We want to give communities more information about sex offenders and keep track of their whereabouts."

The Assembly minority action follows on the heels of Tuesday’s media session at which Gov. George Pataki and members of the state Senate unveiled legislation to strengthen Megan’s Law.

Included on the Assembly minority petition are proposals to strengthen Megan’s Law by restricting sex offenders’ access to schools, monitoring sex offenders’ movements through Global Positioning System satellites, providing more information about sexual predators to communities and requiring lifetime registration of offenders on the state sex offender registry.

Residents wishing to support the petition drive may request a petition by e-mailing Assemblyman McDonough at mcdonod@assembly.state.ny.us, or by calling his district office at 731-8830.