Craig Johnson

Senate Passes Bill to Mandate Life Without Parole for Child Killers

The Senate Democratic Majority recently passed critical legislation that would have those responsible for the intentional death of a child subject to the strictest possible punishment under the law, Senator Craig M. Johnson, (D-Nassau), announced.

The Child Protection Act of 2010 (S7705) establishes the class A-I felony of aggravated murder of a child. The penalty for this crime would be life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Aggravated Murder of a Child includes:

• Intentional killing of a person under 14 while in the course of committing rape, criminal sexual acts, aggravated sexual abuse or incest against such child.

• Depraved indifference or intentional killing of a person under 14 while being legally responsible for the care of such child.

“Those who are responsible for the death of a child simply deserve the harshest allowable sentence,” said Senator Johnson, who helped sponsor this legislation. “As a Senator – and more importantly as a father of three – I am proud to have worked with my colleagues to ensure that New York has one of the toughest possible laws to deal with this horrific crime. It is my hope that the Assembly follows our lead and takes up this critically important legislation.”

The bill also strengthens other parts of the state’s penal law, establishing the offenses of aggravated manslaughter of a child, aggravated abuse of a child in the first, second and third degrees, and aggravated endangering the welfare of a child.

Bill to Disqualify Terror Companies From Obtaining State Contracts Passes State Senate

Important legislation sponsored by Senator Craig M. Johnson, (D-Nassau), that will prevent the state from contracting with companies that conduct business with state sponsors of terror, was unanimously passed by the State Senate recently.

“These countries support terrorist organizations that seek to kill Americans, wipe Israel off the map and undermine our democratic values,” Senator Johnson said. “This legislation will help us ensure that none of our tax dollars support those who support these rogue nations.”

Under this measure (S.5538A), companies that seek to bid on a state contract must disclose if they, or any of their subsidiaries do business with nations that the U.S. State Department identify as a state sponsor of terror. That list currently includes Iran, Syria, Sudan and Cuba.

If such ties do exist, the state would be able to disqualify these companies’ application, even if they are the lowest bidder.

The bill has been delivered to the Assembly.

In 2007, Senator Johnson introduced the Iranian Divestment Act, and became the first member of the State Legislature to call for a prohibition of state pension fund investments in companies that conduct business with the current Iranian government. That strategy was later adopted by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.