Curran, Assembly Vote on Legislation to Protect Crime Victims

This week, Assemblyman Brian Curran (Lynbrook-21st A.D.) and the New York State Assembly voted to pass legislation that will protect and enhance victims’ rights as part of a larger Crime Victims’ Bill Package. While this was an important step forward, Brittany’s Law was left out of the package of legislation proposed by the Assembly Majority.

“I am proud to have voted to provide further rights to crime victims,” said Curran. “Several of the bills we passed enhance rights for victims of sex trafficking, which remains a significant threat in New York State. These measures are significant, but the package of legislation presented by the Majority sadly excluded Brittany’s Law.”

Brittany’s Law is named after Brittany Passalacqua, who was murdered in 2009 along with her mother, Helen Buchel. Buchel’s boyfriend, who had a history of domestic violence, was convicted of the heinous crime. Sadly, there is no registry for domestic violence offenders. Brittany’s Law, which has been passed by the New York State Senate five years in a row, would create such a registry.

“It is imperative that we pass Brittany’s Law this year,” continued Curran. “We have a sex offender registry that informs families when a known sex offender has moved into their neighborhoods and it has protected countless innocent lives. Brittany’s Law will create a similar registry for those convicted of domestic violence. Had Brittany’s mother, Helen, known that her boyfriend had a history of domestic violence, she and her daughter might still be alive today. It is unconscionable that the Assembly Majority has excluded Brittany’s Law from its recent package of legislation, and further that it has never come up for a vote in ‘The People’s House.’”

The New York State Senate will likely pass Brittany’s Law for the sixth consecutive year while there seems to a lack of urgency on the part of Assembly Democrats to take a vote on the issue.

Assemblyman Curran represents the 21st District consisting of parts Nassau County. For more information, please visit Assemblyman Curran’s Official Website.