New York State Assemblyman Steve Labriola (Massapequa) this week announced his support of a measure that would require the state to form Úquot;do not callÚquot; privacy lists to help protect consumers from telemarketing solicitation.

Úquot;Telemarketing is an intrusive and relentless invasion of the privacy and peacefulness in many households,Úquot; said Labriola. Úquot;This proposal would effectively balance an individual's privacy rights and a telemarketer's commercial freedom.Úquot;

Under the proposal, the Public Service Commission would be required to establish a database consisting of residential telephone subscribers who object to receiving telephone solicitations. Telemarketers would then be prohibited from calling any name contained in the database.

Currently, there is a federal law that requires telemarketers to maintain their own do-not-call lists. However, individuals must ask every firm that calls to put them on these lists and, according to Labriola, there are more than 300,000 solicitors making 18 million calls a day.

Úquot;We can't expect consumers to ask each solicitor to put them on these lists every single time one may call,Úquot; said Labriola. Úquot;It would be next to impossible for consumers to keep up with the growing number of telemarketing firms.Úquot;

Labriola indicated that seven other states currently have do-not-call registries. Of those with lists, Georgia has 173,000 subscribers followed by Florida with 122,000, and Oregon with 88,000.

A courageous 17-year old rape victim and the parents of murder victim Jenna Grieshaber joined Assemblyman Steve Labriola and his Republican colleagues recently to speak on behalf of a series of crime bills that would give prosecutors greater tools to put sex offenders behind bars longer.

Úquot;I couldn't believe it when I went to my attacker's sentencing and he only got four-to-nine years when he could have gotten up to 25,Úquot; said Kim Chase, who was sexually assaulted at 13. Úquot;For me to lose my childhood and everything I've ever known is the worst thing in the world. That sentence is not justice, and I am here to support these bills because they will put rapists in jail -- and keep them there.Úquot;

State Assemblyman Labriola has been pushing for the five-bill crime package that aims to give better protection for rape victims, but Democrats in the Assembly majority have refused to even allow the bills to the Assembly floor for a vote, the lawmaker said.

Úquot;These bills are good common-sense legislation; they are supported by an overwhelming majority of members of the Assembly, the state senate, and the governor; and would be enacted if they were allowed to come to the floor for a vote,Úquot; said Labriola. Úquot;It is wrong to block bills that would otherwise pass with overwhelming bipartisan support.Úquot;

Labriola noted that three of the five bills have already passed the state senate with near unanimous bipartisan support. The DNA database bill and the statute of limitations bill have not been voted on in the senate, but have wide support. All five measures are supported by Governor Pataki.

They include:

* Sexual Assault Reform Act to give women greater protection from sexual assault and rape by revising evidence procedures at trial to include additional measures that may be used in determining punishment for repeat sex offenders.

* Suspension of the five-year statute of limitations in rape and other sex crimes to allow use of DNA evidence that overwhelmingly proves guilt regardless of time constraint.

* Expansion of the DNA database to require all individuals convicted of a felony or an attempt to commit a felony, to submit a DNA sample for the DNA database.

* Civil confinement of sexually violent predators in secure treatment facilities. This group of criminals has mental abnormalities that render them likely to be repeat offenders.

* Consecutive sentences for serial rapists to mandate consecutive rather than concurrent sentences for those convicted of rape in the first degree.

Úquot;It is for young women like Ms. Chase and thousands more who each year are victimized and fearful of coming forward that this bill package is aimed at helping,Úquot; said Labriola. Úquot;We have a duty to pass laws such as these for the public good.Úquot;

Labriola added that while violent crime was reduced by 29 percent from January 1995 to December 1998, the reduction in sex crimes, only 11 percent, has lagged the dramatic reduction in other crime categories because of the Democrat Speaker of the Assembly's reluctance to allow a vote on these measures.

Úquot;The time to reform the sexual assault laws is long overdue,Úquot; said Labriola, who said that sexual assault laws have not been significantly reformed in more than 30 years. Úquot;Because sex offenders often are repeat offenders we need to ensure that these tougher, smarter laws are enacted immediately and not blocked by partisan politics.Úquot;