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Paterson Signs Bills Banning Educators In Sex Offense, Fraud Paterson Signs Bills Banning Educators In Sex Offense, Fraud
These measures require District Attorneys to notify the State Education Department when any professional educator is convicted of a sexual offense that requires them to register with the state's Sex Offender Registry. District Attorneys must also notify the SED of administrators convicted of fraudulent schemes. Upon notification, SED will immediately revoke their licenses. 'Must Protect Children' "We have to do everything in our power to protect our children and communities from sexual predators," said Governor Paterson in a statement. "With this bill, we provide another tool to make sure that sex offenders are not in a classroom setting that may put our children in harm's way. This legislation will close gaps that have made it possible for teachers who commit crimes to remain on a school district payroll or to be hired by another school district. "In addition, we will not tolerate school administrators who use their occupation for personal enrichment through the deliberate misuse or misapplication of district funds," he continued. "This has happened too many times in the past." Speaker of the State Assembly Sheldon Silver said, "It is entirely unacceptable that sex offenders - a class of criminal that poses a high risk of re-offense - should have any access to young people in our classrooms. The sex offender registry serves the purpose of notifying communities of an offender's risk. Those who are in this registry have no place teaching in our schools and potentially threatening the safe environment in which our students learn and grow, free from victimization." |
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