Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C-Adirondack) today joined Sen. Jim Tedisco at a press conference in Ballston Spa in support of Joycelynn’s Law. The legislation, which Tedisco is sponsoring in the Senate and Simpson in the Assembly, would significantly strengthen penalties for the criminally negligent death of a child.

The bill is named in memory of three-year-old Joycelynn Dylewski of Corinth, who died last year from acute and chronic neglect. Her parents received the maximum sentence currently allowed under state law, which is just 16 months to 4 years in prison.

“No child should ever suffer the kind of prolonged neglect and unimaginable harm that little Joycelynn endured,” said Simpson. “The current law simply does not match the severity of what happened. By raising the maximum penalty to 25 years to life, we send a clear message that those who fail to protect our most vulnerable will face real consequences.”

Joycelynn’s Law would elevate criminally negligent homicide resulting in the death of a child from a Class E felony to a Class A-1 felony. It would also strengthen penalties for aggravated endangering the welfare of a child in cases that do not result in death.