Senate Bill S2988

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S2988

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to knowingly harboring
a sex offender who has failed to register or verify

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
Section 1 adds a new subdivision 168-ii that provides that any person
who knowingly harbors, houses or employs a sex offender required to
register or verify residence or employment pursuant to Section 168 of
the Corrections Law, who has failed to register or verify as required
by law, and fails to notify his or her local law enforcement agency as
to the location of such offender, shall be guilty of an A misdemeanor.

Section 2 provides that the act shall take effect on January first
next succeeding the date upon which it shall have become law.

 PURPOSE AND JUSTIFICATION :
The recent abduction and murder of Jessica Lunsford in Florida has
again reminded us of the possibility of recidivism for those convicted
of sex offenses, as well as the problem of dealing with those who
protect convicted sex offenders who they know have not registered with
the Division of Criminal Justice Services. Officials in Florida report
that they twice interviewed persons in the house where the accused
murderer was living, yet those persons never divulged that the suspect
was living there. The accused murderer had a 30-year criminal history
              

and was a convicted sex offender who was required to register, but had
failed to do so.  Officials further indicate that there is a high
possibility that Jessica was still alive at the time these interviews
were done. Had family members notified the police that the accused was
living there, it is possible that she might have been rescued, but
there was no law that would obligate these family members to tell
officials that this convicted offender was living with them.

 EXISTING LAW :
Article 6-C of the Corrections Law provides for registration of
convicted sex offenders.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2006 - S.4936-A/A.9233/A.10099 -- PASSED SENATE/Correction/Correction
2007-08 - S.4636/A.2621 -- PASSED SENATE/Correction

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
None.

 LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect all the first of November next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law.