Schumer Urges Action To Close Child Predator Loophole
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State Senator Charles Schumer introduced legislation Monday which will help close a legal loophole that he says could expose children to sexual predators.
The bill would allow groups working with children, such as summer camps and not-for-profit organizations, to access the federal database when performing background checks of new workers and volunteers.
Currently, two-thirds of states, including New York, only have access to state data.
Schumer says New York's database wouldn't show if a potential worker committed a sex crime outside the state.
"The last place that any sexual offender should be working is at a place that cares for our kids," Schumer said. "But unfortunately the way the law is written now, they could come in the front door and despite every best effort of these groups, they wouldn't know that they were convicted of a previous crime."
Schumer's bill also calls for a more streamlined and affordable way for groups to access the federal database.