The nation was transfixed in February by the grainy surveillance video of 11-year-old Carlie Brucia being abducted in Florida. She was later found dead, killed, allegedly by a man with a long criminal record.

Carlie's father, Joseph Brucia said, "The system failed my daughter miserably and as a result, she was robbed of her life. Do not rob her again."

Brucia hopes new legislation will help right a previous wrong. He drove from Long Island to show his support for a Senate-backed bill that would keep sexual predators confined even after their prison terms end.

Brucia said, "I implore all those opposed to it to reconsider, and I would like you to hold the image of my daughter in your mind when you're considering this."

With Brucia looking on, the Senate passed the bill 58-2. Supporters said civil confinement of sexual predators is important because they have a high recidivism rate.

Senator Joseph Bruno said, "Forty-nine percent of the people that are committed, jailed as sexual predators, get out and commit other crimes."

Sixteen states and the District of Columbia already have civil confinement laws, but it may be an uphill battle for New York to become the 17th. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he will look at the bill, but he said he favors harsher upfront penalties for sexual predators, even life sentences.

Silver said, "We have lengthened sentences for all sexual offenders, and we've done some pretty extensive sentencing, including life sentences for those who where victims are minors."

Bruno said Governor George Pataki supports a civil confinement law -- but its future in the Assembly is uncertain.