Bill > A05544

This bill requires youth organizations that work with volunteers who have direct contact with individuals under 18 years old to conduct sex offender registry checks before allowing those volunteers to work with youth. Specifically, the bill defines a "youth organization" as a public or private agency that provides supervised activities for youth, and mandates that these organizations use a special telephone number to check the statewide sex offender registry to determine if a prospective volunteer is registered as a sex offender or sexually violent predator. By January 1, 2026, organizations must perform this check for all active volunteers with direct youth contact, with subsequent checks at the organization's discretion. Before conducting the registry check, the organization must inform the volunteer and provide an opportunity to withdraw from volunteering. Organizations are prohibited from allowing registered sex offenders to volunteer with youth, and violations can result in civil penalties ranging from $100 for a first offense to $200 for subsequent offenses. The bill also stipulates that existing legal restrictions on using and sharing information from the sex offender registry will apply to these youth organizations, helping to protect both the privacy of individuals and the safety of youth.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5544