Suzanne's Law gets push in Assembly

As a minority assemblyman in a house where the majority's rule is virtually absolute, Jim Tedisco has learned some key lessons about life in the lower house: If you keep up the pressure and don't care who gets credit, you just might get something done -- even if you are a Republican.

The lawmaker from Schenectady went that route last year when he pushed through the lower house an anti-animal cruelty bill, named Buster's Bill after a cat in his district.

Tedisco mounted a huge petition drive, nagged the Democratic majority incessantly, and ultimately saw what was essentially his bill approved under the sponsorship of a Democratic lawmaker.

Now, Tedisco is planning to pursue the same strategy, and hoping for a similar result, with a bill that would increase penalties for assaults, rapes, kidnappings and similar crimes when they are committed on or near school grounds and child care facilities.

Suzanne's Law is named for Suzanne Lyall, a University at Albany student who has been missing since March 2, 1998. Lyall, of Ballston Spa, is the suspected victim of an abduction, perhaps one that occurred on campus.

The Republican-controlled Senate passed the bill 59-0, and the Pataki administration is strongly supportive, but the measure cannot get to the floor of the Assembly for a vote.

"I'm not sure they are very supportive of laws like Jenna's Law, which keeps violent felons in prison, or Suzanne's Law, which would increase penalties on or around campuses, and maybe it's a philosophical thing,'' Tedisco said. "But we haven't been able to pin them down.''

Some Democrats in the Assembly question whether a simple increase in penalties is anything more than a knee-jerk reaction to Lyall's disappearance, and they are skeptical that harsher prison terms is the answer.

Others recall, painfully and resentfully, how Republicans last year embarrassed the Democrats over their refusal to consider Jenna's Law, a tough-on-crime bill named for an Albany murder victim. Last year, after Republicans stepped up the pressure during the election season, rank-and-file Democratic lawmakers pressured the leadership to bring the bill to a vote. It passed overwhelmingly and was signed into law by Gov. George Pataki.

On Wednesday, Tedisco and the Pataki administration began a similar drive.

Petitions urging the Legislature to consider Suzanne's Law have been printed and will be distributed statewide. Lt. Gov. Mary O. Donohue held a press conference to denounce Assembly Democratic opposition to the common sense legislation.''

Tedisco said he will promote Suzanne's Law as hard as he promoted Buster's Bill, partially by pushing Democratic colleagues to jump on his bandwagon.

The Republican said he is already working on Assemblyman John J. McEneny, an Albany Democrat whose district includes the university.

"I know the way the system works,'' Tedisco said. "I couldn't even keep my name on a bill I got passed (Buster's Bill). So I said, 'Jack, put your name on the bill. You can carry it.'... He couldn't bring himself to support it, yet. Just like on Jenna's Law, he has to be cautious.''

McEneny said the bill Tedisco initially showed him was seriously flawed.

"There wasn't a lot of thought put into his first draft,'' McEneny said.

McEneny said a new and improved version was delivered late in the legislative session and is now pending before the Codes Committee.

"The Codes Committee didn't act upon it, not only because of the minority sponsorship, but because it raises serious questions that are being reviewed,'' McEneny said. "Among other things, I would like to talk to some college presidents and see what they think about it.''

Next year, however, is an election year, and Republicans are eager to make Suzanne's Law as much a campaign issue in the 2000 cycle as Jenna's Law was in 1998.

Lyall's father, Doug Lyall, said there are no new clues in his daughter's disappearance and authorities have no idea what happened to her.

Lyall said he is hoping that the publicity for Suzanne's Law will prompt someone to come forward with information.