Assemblyman David G. McDonough (R,I,C-Merrick) is applauding efforts by the Assembly majority to address the need to strengthen, enhance and provide greater protection for New Yorkers from sexual predators.

"They have finally acknowledged an issue that my colleagues and I have been advocating for years," said McDonough, vice chair of the Assembly Minority Task Force on Sex Crimes Against Children and Women, known as S.A.V.E.-NY. "I have sponsored legislative initiatives this year, and in the past, that would strengthen Megan’s Law, civilly commit sexually violent predators and provide for lifetime registration of all sex offenders on the state Sex Offender Registry. The safety of New Yorkers from violent predators is an issue that tops my list of legislative priorities for 2005; we have enough time before the end of session to accomplish this."

McDonough noted the Assembly minority has advanced legislative initiatives over the past 10 years that dealt with all issues promoted now by the majority. The proposals include eliminating the statute of limitations in DNA cases; extending the statute of limitations in child sexual assault cases; lifetime registration for all sex offenders, without the ability to petition the court for removal; expanding Internet placement and community notification of sex offenders; strengthening Megan’s Law; global positioning tracking of all Level 3 sex offenders (not just those involving minors); and civil confinement.

"There are differences between the two legislative initiatives, especially when it comes to civil confinement, where the majority only wants to conduct public hearings to determine the viability of civilly committing sexually violent predators. The S.A.V.E.-NY task force has already conducted hearings for the past two years and collected testimony from victims, law enforcement officials, district attorneys and community advocacy groups, with the results used to prompt our current legislative package," said McDonough.

For more information about Assemblyman McDonough’s legislative initiatives or the S.A.V.E.-NY task force, call his district office at 731-8830 or contact him via e-mail at mcdonod@assembly.state.ny.us.