In light of New York State's "F" grading on the National Megan's Law report card, County Legislator Vincent Muscarella recently announced that the Republican delegation introduced legislation aimed at strengthening the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA), New York's version of Megan's Law.

Parents For Megan's Law, a not-for-profit child advocacy and Megan's Law watchdog group, released a study that graded the 50 states on the strength of their own Megan's Law. New York State failed because of the poor way in which information regarding the whereabouts of potentially threatening sexual predators is disseminated.

Specifically, the survey evaluated a community's level of accessibility of sex offender registration information, the extent of information available and national participation in civil commitment laws. States received a letter grade based on the results of 10 questions. According to the Parent's For Megan's Law website, the national Megan's Law average and most occurring grade was "F" (58 percent).

"The results of the survey ... showed me that we need to do a better job protecting our children," Legislator Muscarella admitted.

Current New York State law requires a sex offender to register with local law enforcement upon moving into a community. This proposed legislation would place information on sex offenders living within Nassau County's borders on the county's website, www.nassaucountyny.gov. Moreover, parents and concerned citizens can be notified via e-mail when a new sex offender moves into their community.

At this time, only Level 2 (moderate risk of re-offense) and Level 3 (high risk of re-offense) sex offenders must register with police. It is then the police department's responsibility to notify area school districts. Parents must then contact the police department or the New York State website to obtain information.

Legislator Muscarella said "Megan's Law for Nassau County" would enable parents and concerned citizens to obtain the most information allowed under current state law. Information on both Level 2 and 3 sex offenders will be available on the Nassau County website. "Given today's technology, the current process of notification is unacceptable. This law will improve the process of supplying this vital information," he concluded.

To further combat the issue, Parent's For Megan's Law recently launched its own sex offender e-mail alert program for Nassau and Suffolk County residents. The group said it will notify residents, at no cost, each time Suffolk and Nassau County police departments release sex offender notifications to the community for Level 2 and 3 sex offenders. Nassau County currently has approximately 471 registrants while Suffolk has approximately 830 registered sex offenders.

Parents For Megan's Law is also working with a number of Long Island public school districts to e-mail residents when a sex offender moves into a school district's boundary. Parents and school administrators are encouraged to contact the agency at 631-689-2672 for more information. Residents can register for the Sex Offender E-mail Alert Program, funded by a grant from Senator Owen Johnson, by calling for a registration form or by logging onto www.parentsformeganslaw.com.

Each time a moderate or high-risk offender notification is disseminated to Parent's For Megan's Law, the information, and a photo, is placed onto Megan's Law's website. After signing up for the program, residents will receive e-mail alerts informing them of the offender's name, date of birth, address and a link to the page on the organization's website, where they can view the entire notification, including the photo.

Megan's Law, named after a 7-year-old Hamilton Township, New Jersey girl, who on July 29, 1994, was lured into her neighbor's home with the promise of a puppy and was brutally raped and murdered by a two-time convicted sex offender, took effect Jan. 21, 1996.

In a message on the organization's website from Laura Ahearn, executive director of Parents For Megan's Law, residents are urged to contact their state lawmakers and even President Bush to voice concern that federal Megan's Law guidelines are weak and lack uniformity.