Assemblyman David G. McDonough (R,C,I-Merrick) today called on Speaker Sheldon Silver and his Assembly majority to make an extension of a Megan’s Law provision the first order of legislative business in 2006.

“As with civil confinement, the extension of the Sex Offender Registry regarding particular groups of convicted sex offenders is an issue of great importance to all New York families,” said McDonough, vice chair of the Assembly Minority Task Force on Sex Crimes Against Children and Women. “When it comes to our children, we cannot agree to disagree. We need a resolution to this, and we need it before January 21.”

The ten-year registration mandate for certain Level 1 and 2 sex offenders on the state Sex Offender Registry will end on January 21, and the identities and locations of 168 of the convicted predators will be dropped from the registry during the first 24 hours. By year’s end, information about more than 3,500 sex offenders would disappear from the registry if the provision is not amended or extended.

The Sex Offender Registration Act, known as Megan’s Law, was signed by Gov. George E. Pataki in July 1995 and took effect January 21, 1996. Registered sex offenders in New York are classified by risk of repeating their crimes: Level 1 (low risk), 2 (moderate risk) or 3 (high risk). The court also determines whether an offender should be designated a sexual predator, sexually violent offender or predicate sex offender. Sex offenders registered on or after March 11, 2002 register for a minimum of 10 years, unless they have been given a designation. If given a designation, they register for life.