WPCNR'S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam Bradley. June 13, 2005:  No crime is more heinous than one that steals the innocence from a child. That is why I am committed to passing laws that keep sexual predators off our streets and strengthen the state’s sex offender registry.

The Assembly has already passed a litany of legislative measures that would strengthen our laws and provide better safety. A bill which I authored creates a new crime called compelling prostitution. A person would be guilty of compelling prostitution when, being twenty-one years of age or more, he or she knowingly advances prostitution by compelling a person less than sixteen years old, by force or intimidation, to engage in prostitution (A.6723). The crime would be considered a class B felony and an individual found guilty under the law could serve up to 25 years in prison.

Another bill which passed the Assembly this week would ban sexual predators from working on ice cream trucks (A.2550). Ice creams trucks attract young children as customers, especially in the summer. The only thing a child should have to worry about is what flavor to choose, not who is serving the ice cream. We must prevent sexual predators from taking jobs that bring them in close contact with youngsters.

Other tough new legislation passed by the Assembly would:

·        require that the photo of an individual on the sex offender registry be current upon registration— (A.1159/S.2843);

·        require public notices concerning Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders include any aliases the offender is known to use—(A. 2664/S.493-A);

·        increase the period of time Level 1 and 2 offenders must register beyond the current 10-year requirement—(A.1342);

·        require police officers to visit the residence of any sex offender subject to Megan's Law who failed to file a required periodic verification form and obtain a signed verification form from the offender to confirm the offender's location—(A.7707);

·        require sex offenders acquitted by reason of insanity to register under Megan's Law after release from custody and in-patient treatment—(A.966/S.2797);

·        prohibit sex offenders from participating in community work crews operated by the Department of Correctional Services—(A.3156/S.966-A); and

·        require children's overnight camps, day camps and traveling day camps to determine whether a prospective staff member is a registered sex offender—(A.5209/S.2803)

We need to work together in a bipartisan manner and create a safer environment for our children.