BILL NUMBER: S7603
SPONSOR: RHOADS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to registering with the
sex offender registry no later than five days after any change of
address
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the bill is to reduce the length of time, from ten (10)
calendar days to five (5) calendar days, in which a registered sex
offender must register any change of address with the Division of Crimi-
nal Justice Services (DCJS).
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill would amend Correction Law § 168 to reduce the
length of time to 5 calendar days that any sex offender must notify
Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) of any change of address,
internet accounts with internet access providers belonging to such
offender, internet identifiers that such offender uses, or his or her
status of enrollment, attendance, employment or residence at any insti-
tution of higher education
Section 2 would provide for the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Under current law, a registered sex offender has 10 days to notify DCJS
of any change of address. DCJS then notifies the local law enforcement
agency having jurisdiction of the new place of residence. The agency in
turn, notifies neighbors and other entities of the offender's new
.address. This 10-day window of opportunity provides anonymity to regis-
tered sex offenders in regard to unsuspecting new neighbors and local
law enforcement. By reducing this period from 10 days to five days, the
community and law enforcement will be informed sooner that a sexual
predator has moved into their community in order to take the steps
necessary to keep their children safer.
Likewise, the 10-day window a registered sex offender is allowed to surf
the Internet before reporting any change in Internet accounts or inter-
net identifiers provides virtual anonymity to such offender for this
period of time. Reducing the number of days a sex offender has to report
these changes to DCJS will allow such offender to be monitored more
quickly for illegal activity.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.

Statutes affected:
S7603: 168-f correction law, 168-f(4) correction law