Res. No. 1137 Title Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to increase the penalty for the failure to register or verify an address as required by the Sex Offender Registration Act. Body By Council Members Vallone Jr, Clarke, Boyland, Comrie, Felder, Gennaro, Gentile, Katz, Lopez, Rivera, Sears, Yassky and Liu Whereas, The brutal killings of Polly Klaas and Megan Kanka, and the disappearance of Jacob Wetterling, brought national attention to the threat that convicted sex offenders present to our communities; and Whereas, In response, the federal government enacted the Jacob Wetterling Violent Sexual Offender Registration Act, requiring all fifty states to establish registration programs for convicted child molesters and other sexually violent offenders; and Whereas, New York State's Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) requires convicted sex offenders to register with the state and to annually verify his or her address; and Whereas, SORA's registration and address verification requirements permit law enforcement agencies and the general public to know the whereabouts of convicted sex offenders located within or near their communities; and Whereas, Despite these requirements, convicted sex offenders are failing to register or update their registrations; and Whereas, The penalty for a first offense under SORA's registration and verification requirements is only a class A misdemeanor upon conviction; and Whereas, Unregistered convicted sex offenders pose a great threat to our communities by thwarting supervision by law enforcement agencies and preventing the general public from protecting themselves and their families; and Whereas, Senate Bill 1016 (S.1016) and Assembly Bill 5083 (A.5083) would increase the penalty for the initial failure to register or verify an address to a class D felony; and Whereas, Increasing the penalty to a class D felony would better protect the general public by compelling convicted sex offenders to comply with SORA's registration and verification requirements; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the city of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to increase the penalty for the failure to register or verify an address as required by the Sex Offender Registration Act.