Dear Parents:

A family’s worst fear is the disappearance of their child. More than 150,000 children disappear without a trace each year. Recent tragic events in Florida and Iowa highlight the potential dangers our children face each day. Violent sexual predators are released into our communities with little or no supervision. Will it take a tragedy in our community before we act? I know that I am not willing to take that chance.

As vice chairman of the Assembly Minority Sexual Assault and Violence Education Task Force (SAVE-NY), I’ve worked diligently with law enforcement officials, district attorneys and community activists from throughout the state to enact legislation that further protects New York’s children from sexual predators.

The task force’s research and investigation resulted in a thorough and comprehensive plan for protecting New York’s residents, especially its children. The legislation I’m sponsoring, Assembly bill A.3985, would establish the Save-NY Child Protection Act of 2005. The measure addresses sex offender verification provisions, mandated photo updates, posting of all convicted sex offenders on the state Division of Criminal Justice Web site, residency and employment restrictions, Internet crimes, plea bargain limitations, statute of limitations and civil confinement.

The task force reviewed Megan’s Law and acknowledged it as an invaluable tool for keeping children safe. But we’re determined to strengthen it with stiffer penalties for convicted sexual predators so children are afforded greater protections.

Computers and the Internet are wonderful tools opening doors to an incredible world of valuable and useful information for our children. However, children using the Internet for valid reasons are too often harassed, enticed or lured into illegal and dangerous situations by predators. The task force’s legislation focuses on and severely punishes individuals who try to lure or entice a minor via the Internet by increasing the penalty from a Class A misdemeanor of endangering the welfare of a child to a Class D felony.

Civil confinement of the most dangerous, sexually violent predators after they’ve served their prison sentences has repeatedly been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. The state Legislature has the authority and right to provide for the continued care, treatment and confinement of criminals who aren’t able to control their behaviors by deeming them a continued grave risk to the public.

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia have passed civil confinement laws and corrected deficiencies in their statutes so they are constitutional. Passage of the Save-NY Child Protection Act of 2005 would extend to New Yorkers the protection that other states’ citizens now enjoy.

I’m committed to protecting the children of New York. That’s why I’m co-sponsoring this legislation. We must send a strong message to anyone who would harm - physically, emotionally or psychologically - our children.

I have also included some important Web sites and telephone numbers you might find useful in protecting and informing your family.

If you feel as strongly about these issues as I do, call my district office at (516) 731-8830 or send me an e-mail at mcdonod@assembly.state.ny.us. You may also voice your concerns to the Assembly’s majority leadership at (518) 455-3791, or e-mail speaker@assembly.state.ny.us.