Kaminsky Sponsers Bills to Prohibit Sex Offenders from Residing Near a School
Long Beach, NY - February 28, 2015 - In response to a recent court ruling striking down Nassau County’s sex offender residency restrictions, Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Beach) is co-sponsoring legislation (A.547 and A.3828) that would prohibit all sex offenders from residing within 1,000 feet of a school, or residing near or entering a playground.
“The Court of Appeals decision to overturn Nassau County’s commonsense measure, which prohibited all sex offenders from residing within 1,000 feet of a school, is disturbing,” said Assemblyman Kaminsky. “If the Court of Appeals won’t allow our county to keep sex offenders from moving next door to schools, then we must act quickly to tighten state restrictions on sex offenders and keep our kids safe.”
“The vulnerability of our children requires government to enact laws that ensure their protection. Keeping these predators away from schools and playgrounds is not only proper but is a moral imperative. I salute Assemblyman Kaminsky for his commitment to protecting our youth with this vital legislation” said Michael Tangney, Chief of the Long Beach Police Department.
Current law prohibits only the most dangerous sex offenders (Level 3) from residing within 1,000 feet of a school. The measures Mr. Kaminsky is co-sponsoring would ban all sex offenders, regardless of classification, from living near schools, and from living by or entering a playground. The proposal to ban registered offenders from residing near schools is similar to the Nassau County sex offender residency restriction that was recently struck down by the Court of Appeals.
“As a new father, I am horrified that a sex offender could be living next to my child’s future school or spend time in their playground. We must immediately take action to ensure that these dangerous predators are kept away from our children,” concluded Assemblyman Kaminsky.