Assemblyman David G. McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) today was joined at a press conference by Minority Leader James Tedisco (R,C,I-Schenectady-Saratoga) and the Assembly minority conference to demand immediate action on creating a permanent solution to a provision in Megan’s Law that expires January 21.

The measure in dispute requires low- and moderate-risk convicted sex offenders to register with the state Sex Offender Registry for 10 years after their convictions.

“There has been a lot of political posturing over the past few weeks on this issue, but the time for that is over,” said McDonough, vice chairman of the Assembly minority Task Force on Sex Crimes Against Children and Women. “We need to pass these legislative safeguards to protect children, women and our communities from sexually violent predators.”

There also is a legislative package being advanced by Gov. George Pataki, the state Senate majority and Assembly minority that includes proposals for civil confinement of the most dangerous sexual predators; longer prison sentences for perpetrators of sexually violent crimes; ending the statute of limitations for rape and sexual assaults; and requiring all criminals to submit DNA samples.