ALBANY – Governor Pataki yesterday called for lifelong registration of all sex offenders, thousands of whom are scheduled to be quietly dropped from the public registry in 2006.

More than 3,000 sex offenders now required to be identified in lists available to the public under Megan’s Law will no longer have to be included by the end of 2006. That’s because the 1996 law required most offenders to register for just 10 years, the New York Daily News reported yesterday. Only the offenders considered the most dangerous face lifetime registration and are required to notify police when they move.

“Given the threat to our communities posed by sex offenders and the terrible damage caused by their heinous acts, we must strengthen Megan’s Law,” Mr. Pataki said.

Megan’s Law, named for a victim of a repeat offender, requires offenders’ names to be posted on a state Web site (http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us). The information often is distributed by schools, day care centers, and other facilities when sex offenders on the list move to a community.

There are more than 20,000 registered sex offenders in New York state. Minimal information about offenders is available from the state for Level 1 offenders, those deemed to be at the lowest risk of committing another sex crime. Level 2 and 3 offenders face more disclosure about their crimes, including local community notification when Level 3 offenders are moving to an area. About 5,500 offenders are subject to lifetime registration, according to the Daily News.

Senate Republicans plan hearings in May that would lead to legislative proposals in June, before the current session ends.

Charles Carrier, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, “We’ll take a look at his proposal when he makes it and continue to enact tough, smart, effective laws.”

The Republican governor had chided the Assembly’s Democratic leadership, saying the Democrats’ “so-what attitude toward sex offenders” has blocked tougher legislation.