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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Eugene DePasquale |
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DePasquale: House Judiciary Committee approves child crime bills
HARRISBURG, Dec. 5 – State Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, said the House Judiciary Committee today reported out three bills to the full House for consideration.
DePasquale said that two of the bills deal directly with bringing Pennsylvania in line with federal law designed to strengthen sex offender registration standards.
"It is imperative that we align our laws with the federal standards to eliminate any loopholes and assure the safety of our children," DePasquale said.
House Bill 1958, authored by Rep. Ron Marsico, R-Dauphin, would bring the state into compliance with the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, as well as close various loopholes in Pennsylvania’s sex offender registry law, called Megan’s Law.
Under the bill, Pennsylvania would adopt the comprehensive set of standards associated with the federal law. Sexual offenders would be required to:
· report any change in address, phone number, email address, job and educational status;
· verify the name of any location they will be staying at if away from their permanent address for seven days or longer;
· provide advance notice of international travel at least 21 days before departure; and
· make all required reporting in-person at an approved registration site.
DePasquale said the bill also would place offenders into a three-tiered system based on the level of the offense. Those in Tier 1 would have to register for 15 years, Tier 2 would have to register for three years and offenders in Tier 3 would have to register for life.
Also under the bill, loopholes in the state's Megan's Law that were brought to light by recent court cases would be closed. Provisions include homeless or transient sex offenders who do not have a permanent address or technical residence would be required to register every 30 days as well as new provisions regarding out-of state offenders.
The committee also approved S.B. 1183, a companion bill to H.B. 1958, introduced by Sen. Jane Orie, R-Allegheny/Butler. It also is designed to bring Pennsylvania into compliance with the Adam Walsh Act as well as close Megan's Law loopholes.
"These bills help better protect children from sexual predators," DePasquale said. "It is common sense to work together to make sure these bills move efficiently through the General Assembly so they can become law as quickly as possible."
The bills are expected to soon go before the full House for consideration.
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