The New York State Senate passed legislation agreed upon by the governor, attorney general and both houses of the state legislature that would give New York the toughest, most comprehensive anti-terrorism laws in the nation.

The bill (S.7685), co-sponsored by Senator Kemp Hannon of Garden City, increases penalties for those who provide support to terrorists and supplies law enforcement officials with additional tools to prevent future terrorist attacks in New York State.

"This bill represents a step in the effort to make New York safer," Hannon said. "Enacting these measures now is crucial, given the threat of terrorist acts at the upcoming convention and during the fall elections."

The legislation would strengthen existing laws by facilitating the investigation and prosecution of terrorists; create new anti-terrorism crimes; and severely punish the possession and use of chemical and biological weapons.

Specifically, the legislation would create the crime of money laundering in the first, second, third and fourth degrees to help cut off money that fuels terrorism. Create the crime of criminal possession and use of a chemical or biological weapon in the first, second and third degrees.

Establish the penalty of life without parole for chemical and biological weapons offenses and authorize eavesdropping warrants for those weapons offenses. Extend the statute of limitations for the prosecution of terrorist offenses from five to eight years, with no statute of limitations if the offense resulted in death or created a foreseeable risk of death or serious physical injury to another person.

Require submission of DNA sample from anyone convicted of terrorism. Make the State Office of Homeland Security a permanent office under law and directs the director of Homeland Security to conduct an analysis of measures being taken to protect the security of critical infrastructure of chemical storage facilities.

Expand hazardous materials emergency response training programs to include weapons of mass destruction. Require public and private use airports to establish security plans. Create the new offense of placing false hazardous materials or devices with the intent to cause public harm. The emergency response organization that responds to the false threat would be able to hold the perpetrator civilly liable and be able to seek financial restitution.