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SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Two local lawmakers are pushing to better protect people living in elder care facilities. This comes after a nursing home employee was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a resident.

Assemblyman James Tedisco and State Senator Kathy Marchione are now spearheading new legislation.

Richard Ragone, 64, has been accused of inappropriately touching a 91-year-old woman at Loudonville nursing home. Ragone, who was a maintenance worker there, is a level three registered sex offender. However, current laws do not mandate nursing homes and elder care facilities check the sex offender registry when hiring.

Tedisco says this legislation would close that loophole.

“It would make sure that any adult care facility living or assisted facility would be mandated to check the sex offender registry. It would also not allow an individual that is on that particular registry to never work at a center that cares for our senior citizens,” Tedisco said.

Tedisco believes background checks for nursing home workers should be similar to those for people applying to work in schools.