New York State Assembly

Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua) today commented on passage of a legislative package to recognize National Crime Victims' Rights Week. The Assembly passed 10 bills, but did not include the Domestic Violence Prevention Act, also known as Brittany's Law. The legislation would create a registry of violent felony offenders similar to the existing sex-offender registry established by Megan's Law.

"The Assembly showed a commitment to crime victims today, but it needs to show much more. Brittany's Law is a glaring omission from the actions the Assembly took today. Brittany's Law will save lives and protect New Yorkers.

New York City has a registry of individuals who have beaten animals. No such registry exists for violent felons who have beaten women and children. How do New York City Assembly Majority members explain that discrepancy to the victims of violent crimes?

When the Assembly legalized Mixed Martial Arts earlier this year, numerous Majority members expressed their concerns that legalizing the sport would facilitate increased incidences of violence. Ironically, those same Majority members are the individuals preventing Brittany's Law from advancing to the Assembly floor."

The Domestic Violence Prevention Act has passed the Senate six times by overwhelming margins and with bipartisan support. Despite having Majority sponsorship in the Assembly, Brittany's Law (A.1833, Gunther) has failed to be considered by the Majority Members of the Corrections Committee. Brittany's Law is named after Brittany Passalacqua, a 12-year-old girl from Geneva who was murdered in 2009, along with her mother, Helen Buchel, by an individual who was previously incarcerated for violently assaulting his infant daughter.