New York State takes what leaders call a bold step to protect children from sexual predators on the Internet.

Governor David Paterson signed into law new restrictions on convicted sex offenders.

Action News Reporter Julianne Sweeney tells us how its designed to keep them off networking sites like MySpace.

Social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook can entangle children in a web of danger.

Sexual predators are free to log on and contact kids.

New York lawmakers came up with a plan to try to block access.

Governor David Paterson signed E-Stop.

Patterson says, "We think this legislation has some teeth. We're going to ask for cooperation of social networking sites, not just the big ones like MySpace."

Under the state's Megan's Law, convicted sex offenders are required to register where they live, and their addresses are listed in a public registry.

Yet, these same sex offenders can create Internet screen names and access websites used by children.

New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says, "Their ability to circumvent supervision, undermine their treatments and reemerge as cyber stalkers. This bill imposes reasonable and appropriate Internet restrictions on all convicted sex offenders who are required to register under Megan's Law."

Now, sex offenders have to register all screen and user names too.

They face a felony charge if they don't comply.

Companies can use the registry to screen for those who try to use their sites.

The law goes further to forbid sex offenders from using websites to contact children.

New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says, "That prohibition is very powerful. What it says in many ways is it is updating Megan's Law. The playground of today is not just the street corner. The playground is in cyberspace. If you want to protect children you have to protect them where they are."

New York's the first in the country to add Internet registration to Megan's Law.

Leaders hope other states will follow.

Julianne Sweeney, WBNG-TV, Action News.