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NT leaders urging passage of sex offender law will call on Assembly to pass bill after Senate delivers

by jmaloni

Press release

Wed, Jun 12th 2013 02:45 pm

by Christian W. Peck

Public Information Officer

Niagara County Public Information Office

Top elected officials from North Tonawanda plan to call on their state assemblyman to shepherd a bill to limit sex offenders' access to children through the Assembly before the June 20 conclusion of the state's legislative session.

That North Tonawanda assemblyman, Robin Schimminger, is actually the author of the bill, which passed the state Senate Tuesday after Sen. George D. Maziarz, R-North Tonawanda, fast-tracked the bill for passage in the Legislature's upper chamber.

The bill was pushed through the Senate by Maziarz after the Assembly's leadership failed to provide a sponsor for a companion bill to a bill authored by Maziarz that would restrict sex offenders from residing within 1,500 feet of schools and other facilities utilized by children. Maziarz decided to sponsor the weaker Schimminger bill in the hopes of helping Niagara County enact safeguards against sex offenders after a state court in Geneva struck down a sex offender restriction law there similar to one on the books in Niagara County.

Thus far, Schimminger's bill, which was introduced in January, has not been voted out of committee, despite Schimminger's considerable seniority having served in the Assembly since 1977.

WHO: Legislator Paul B. Wojtaszek, R-North Tonawanda, Mayor Robert G. Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, City Attorney Shawn P. Nickerson, R-North Tonawanda

WHAT: Calling on Assemblyman Robin Schimminger, D-North Tonawanda, and the leadership of the New York State Assembly to bring A.3419 to the floor for a vote, and pass the same, following the passage of its companion bill, S.5680, in the Senate Tuesday. The bill, sponsored by Schimminger, would restrict sex offenders from residing within 1,350 feet of schools and other facilities regularly utilized by children.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 12, 4 p.m.

WHERE: North Tonawanda City Hall, 216 Payne Ave., North Tonawanda.

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