NEW CITY (AP) - A judge has ruled that New York state laws pre-empt a suburban county's statutes restricting where sex offenders can live.

The ruling on Friday by state Supreme Court Justice Hon. William Kelly could affect similar laws throughout the state. Kelly wrote that state law gives local probation officers the right to decide where sex offenders can live.

Rockland's 2007 law prohibited sex offenders from living, working or loitering within 100 feet of schools or other places where children gather.

Kelly's decision would dismiss misdemeanor charges against more than a dozen sex offenders in Rockland.

Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef said that the decision points to the need for the state to establish criteria for housing sex offenders.

The county has 30 days to appeal Kelly's decision.