Legislator Nicolello Co-Sponsors Law to
Protect Youth From Sex Offenders
Nassau County Legislator Richard Nicolello, of New Hyde Park, co-sponsored a new local law to help protect children from registered sex offenders. The new local law, which was approved in a unanimous vote, requires youth agencies to search New York State’s online Sex Offender Registry with respect to its employees and volunteers.
The new law allows a parent or guardian to inquire of a youth agency whether there is a registered sex offender employed by the agency, whether full-time, part-time or as a volunteer. In response to inquiries, agencies must provide a disclosure statement that all principals, employees, volunteers, and independent contractors associated with the youth agency are not registered sex offenders pursuant to verification with the New York Sex Offender Registry.
It has been shown that there is a high rate of recidivism for convicted sex offenders and therefore such offenders may pose a risk to youth entrusted in their care.
“The new law provides parents and guardians with another tool to help minimize the chances that their children are exposed to registered sex offenders. It provides for an additional measure of protection for our children by requiring agencies to conduct a simple, cost-free search of the database of sex offenders provided by the State of New York,” said Nicolello.
