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STATEMENT BY ASSEMBLYMAN BRIAN KOLB ON THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET PROPOSAL
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Governor Pataki's budget is a strong indicator of a positive year to come. The anticipated budget surplus will allow us to cut taxes for working families and seniors. This budget mirrors my commitment to help ease the heavy burden of crippling property taxes.
The Governor's plan calls for $410 million to help small businesses obtain low interest commercial loans - $60 million more than last year - and almost $16 million dollars for tourism, which would help attract even more tourists to our beautiful Finger Lakes region.
I also applaud the Governor's support for public safety by opening a facility to confine sexual predators. We need to do everything possible to keep our streets safe from violent criminals. I am confident that 2006 will be a successful and productive year as the Governor has provided us with the tools needed to make New York a better and safer place.
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STATEMENT BY ASSEMBLYMAN BRIAN KOLB
ON MEGAN'S LAW VICTORY
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"The agreement reached today on Megan's Law is a major victory for anyone who cares about protecting women and children from dangerous sex offenders."
"My colleagues and I have long known how important it is to keep track of sexual predators and where they are residing. We now have the tools needed to accomplish that goal."
"However, we will not rest and cannot rest. I will continue to press the Assembly Majority on passing civil confinement legislation to keep the most dangerous offenders away from our families and off the streets."
Assemblyman Kolb noted that the agreement keeps Level 3 offenders, those who committed the most serious crimes, on the registry for life. In addition, Level 2 sex offenders will now be required to register for 30 years, after which they may petition a judge to be removed from the registry. Level 1 offenders will have to register for 20 years.
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TOUGHER MEGAN'S LAW A WIN FOR FAMILIES
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The agreement reached by the state Legislature on Megan's Law enhancements is a major victory for people who care about protecting women and children from dangerous sex offenders.
My Assembly Republican colleagues and I have long known how important it is to keep track of convicted sexual predators and where they live after their release from prison. The Megan's Law Sex Offender Registry is a vital tool that helps residents and law enforcement keep their communities safer.
The law mandates registration and notification provisions and requires classification of convicted sex offenders using a three-tier system: Levels 1, 2 and 3 are low, moderate and high-risk offenders, respectively. The levels increase as the offenders' risk to the community and public increases. A level of notification recommendation is made to the sentencing court before each offender's prison release.
This legislation keeps Level 3 offenders, those who committed the most serious sexual crimes, on the registry for life. Level 2 sex offenders will have to register for 30 years, after which they may petition a judge to be removed from the registry. Level 1 offenders must register for 20 years, double the time under the existing statute.
The first 168 Level 1 and Level 2 sex offenders (129 of the 168 are Level 2) were due to drop off the Megan's Law registry on January 21, with the total jumping to 3,500 by year's end if the Legislature didn't take decisive action last week.
I am proud that reforming Megan's Law was one of the first actions taken by the Assembly this year. This achievement was reached after both parties came together to do the right thing. Passage of this legislation is not just a win for me, but for the residents of New York who no longer have to worry about dangerous sex offenders falling off the State's radar screen. This is how state government in Albany should always work.
However, we will not rest and cannot rest. I will continue to press the Assembly Majority to pass civil confinement legislation to keep the most dangerous offenders away from our families and off the streets.
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ASSEMBLYMAN KOLB CALLS FOR JESSICA'S LAW, TOUGHER CIVIL CONFINEMENT
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Measure Mandates Sentence of 25 Years to Life for Violent Sexual Felonies Against Children
Assemblyman Brian M. Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua) today joined Governor George Pataki and Senator Michael F. Nozzolio (R-Fayette) in support of legislation that would significantly toughen penalties on those who commit sexual crimes against children. The bill is named for Jessica Lunsford, a nine-year-old-girl who was abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered by a registered sex offender living in her neighborhood in Florida.
"Violent sex offenders who prey on children are despicable individuals who should face tough criminal penalties," said Assemblyman Kolb. "Jessica's Law would be a major step forward in protecting children from dangerous predators by keeping them locked up in prison where they belong."
Jessica's Law mandates sentences of 25 years to life for violent sexual felonies against children and strengthens other sexual assault laws.
Assemblyman Kolb also joined his Assembly Republican colleagues today in blasting the civil confinement bill offered by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver as "dangerously weak."
Kolb said that under the Democrat bill, those currently incarcerated for sex offenses are not eligible for civil confinement. The bill also exempts those offenders who receive plea deals and requires a strict standard of five criteria to be met before a sex offender can be considered for confinement. Eligible sex offenders must then meet two separate jury determinations before they could be civilly confined.
Legislation sponsored by Assembly Republicans is much stronger and makes more than 5,000 sex offenders currently incarcerated eligible for civil confinement, noted Kolb. It also allows convictions by guilty pleas, has a more reasonable standard to confine more offenders and requires one jury determination.
"We need real civil confinement that will keep the most dangerous sex offenders out of our communities and off the streets," Kolb added. "I hope that a Joint Conference Committee will be convened that will result in a more sensible piece of legislation that will truly make our constituents safe."
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KOLB TAKES TO ASSEMBLY FLOOR TO PUSH FOR STRONGER
LAWS PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM SEX OFFENDERS
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Assemblyman Brian Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua) has announced a series of measures he supports to keep dangerous sex offenders off our streets, thereby protecting our children. Speaking from the Floor of the Assembly in Albany, Kolb called for the Assembly Democrats to pass civil confinement and strengthen Megan's Law to keep convicted sex offenders at least 1,000 feet away from schools and other areas where children frequent, along with other tough measures.
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