ALBANY, NY — Registered sex offenders in New York would be barred from entering or coming within 500 feet of any state or municipal park under a newly introduced Assembly bill aimed at expanding restrictions in areas frequented by children.
Assembly Bill A00160, sponsored by Assemblymember Brian Angelino and backed by multiple co-sponsors, proposes a blanket prohibition covering all publicly owned parks across the state.
What the bill would do
The legislation would amend New York’s correction law to create a new restriction applying to anyone required to register as a sex offender.
Under the proposal, those individuals could not:
- Enter state parks
- Enter municipal-owned parks
- Be located within 500 feet of those locations
The bill does not outline exceptions or conditions in its current form.
Lawmakers say the restriction is intended to reduce the risk of contact between registered offenders and vulnerable populations, particularly children who commonly use public parks.
Supporters cite public safety concerns
In the bill’s justification, sponsors argue that additional safeguards are necessary to protect communities from repeat offenses.
“The citizens of the state must have further protection from sexual predators,” the memo states, pointing specifically to parks as locations where children and families gather.
The proposal reflects a broader legislative trend in some states to expand geographic restrictions on where registered sex offenders can live or travel.
Key Points
• Bill A00160 would ban registered sex offenders from all state and municipal parks
• Restriction includes a 500-foot buffer zone around those locations
• Measure introduced in January 2025 and currently under committee review
Scope and potential impact
If enacted, the measure would apply statewide and could significantly limit access to public spaces, especially in dense urban or suburban areas where parks are widespread.
The 500-foot boundary could also affect sidewalks, nearby streets, and residential areas located close to parks, depending on how enforcement is interpreted.
The bill does not specify enforcement mechanisms or penalties within the provided text, but such restrictions are typically tied to existing sex offender registration compliance rules.
Legislative path and status
Assembly Bill A00160 was prefiled on January 8, 2025, and referred to the Assembly Committee on Correction, where it remains under consideration.
The legislation has no listed Senate companion bill in the provided materials and is classified as a new proposal with no prior legislative history.
It would take effect immediately if passed.
Broader context
New York already imposes certain residency and proximity restrictions on registered sex offenders, particularly those assessed as higher risk, though rules vary based on classification and supervision status.
This proposal would create a more uniform, statewide standard specifically targeting parks, expanding restrictions regardless of individual risk level.
Debate around such measures often centers on balancing public safety with practical enforcement and reintegration challenges, though no formal opposition or supporting testimony beyond the sponsor’s memo is included in the bill materials.
What happens next
The bill must advance out of the Assembly Correction Committee before moving to a full floor vote. Lawmakers may revise the language, including potential clarifications around enforcement or scope, during that process.
As of now, the measure remains in the early stages of consideration with no scheduled vote.
The proposal is pending in committee and has not yet advanced in the legislative process.
