Schenectady County originally adopted a sex offender residency law in June, 2007. It was subsequently amended to allow registered sex offenders who were current residents to remain. The law was also changed so that it did not apply to Level 1 (low risk) offenders.
Here is the law as originally enacted.
The amendments are described in the news story below.
Here is a letter from the NYCLU which threatened legal action against the county.
Law to protect kids is altered
KATHLEEN MOORE
Schenectady Gazette, August 24, 2007
Newly released sex offenders will no longer be able to move into most of the urban parts of Schenectady County, but those who already live here can stay where they are, the county Legislature decided Thursday. The Legislature also decided that Level 1 sex offenders, the label given to those considered least likely to re-offend, would be exempt from the residency restrictions.
For those in levels 2 and 3, much of the county will become off-limits. They cannot live within 2,000 feet of any facility that caters to children, which in practicality means most convicts will have to live in Duanesburg, Princetown or western Glenville if they stay in the county. All of Schenectady and Scotia appear to be off-limits, as well as almost all of Niskayuna and Rotterdam.
In those municipalities, only those who already live within one of the 2,000-foot exclusion zones can stay. The law takes effect immediately and replaces the two controversial laws that were passed in June on the same topic.
Thursday's decision comes after two months of contentious debate, but it may not be over yet. The Legislature also created a special council to consider how best to monitor convicted sex offenders and prevent them from raping or molesting another person after their release from prison...