Assembly Resolution No. 954

BY: M. of A. McDonald

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
April 6, 2018, as Missing Persons Day in the State
of New York

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to create public
awareness concerning the devastation occurring as a result of the
unexplained disappearance of a loved one; and

WHEREAS, Friday, April 6, 2018, is the observance of the 40th
birthday of Suzanne Gloria Lyall, a University at Albany student who has
been missing since 1998; and

WHEREAS,This year, March 2, 2018, will mark the 20th Anniversary of
when Suzanne Gloria Lyall disappeared; and

WHEREAS, A bright, creative and talented computer science student,
Suzanne Lyall touched countless lives with her poetry, radiant
personality and cheerful, infectious smile; and

WHEREAS, The youngest of the three children of Mary and the late
Doug Lyall, Suzanne Lyall of Ballston Spa, New York, disappeared at the
age of 19 in the prime of her life, while preparing for a brilliant
future; and

WHEREAS, In 1999, legislation was enacted that required all colleges
to adopt plans for investigation of reports of missing students and of
violent felony offenses occurring on their campuses; and further
required that such plans include agreements with local police agencies
for coordination of these investigations; and further required the
Division of Criminal Justice Services to operate a toll free 24-hour
telephone number that members of the public may call to obtain
information as to resources available to the public to assist in the
location and recovery of missing persons; and

WHEREAS, In 2000, New York State passed legislation known as
"Suzanne's Law," which provides for increased penalties for certain
crimes committed on school grounds; and

WHEREAS, The State of New York intends to make April 6, 2018, a day
of recognition of the need to further enhance efforts to locate missing
persons in New York, noting the missing persons epidemic in this State,
and the impact this epidemic has on the families, people close to a
missing individual, and the community as a whole; and

WHEREAS, Several thousand people are labeled "missing" in New York
State, many of whom are 18 years of age or older; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that we should
attempt to bring comfort to the family members of missing persons in the
State of New York who suffer from continuous grieving and who are
condemned to carry the burden of uncertainty as a result of not knowing
the true circumstances of their loved one's disappearance or
whereabouts; and


WHEREAS, This Legislative Body reaffirms its ongoing crusade by
observing April 6, 2018, as Missing Persons Day in the State of New
York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 6, 2018, as
Missing Persons Day in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.