For Immediate Release:
March 2, 2004
Sen.
Jay Paul Gumm
Legislation to Strengthen Sex Offender Law Clears Senate
The State Senate has given its unanimous approval
to a measure requiring out-of-state sex offenders to register
with local law enforcement if they have a spouse who lives
in Oklahoma. The bill would also shorten the amount of time
convicted sex offenders have to register with the Department
of Corrections and local police from three to two days.
Sen. Jay
Paul Gumm is the author of Senate Bill 1096. He said
the idea for the legislation came from a constituent worried
about protecting his grandchildren from sex offenders living
across the border in Texas that are married to Oklahomans.
Gumm’s district borders north Texas.
“There was great concern that by ‘hiding out’
across the border, a sex offender could avoid Oklahoma’s
sex offender registration law,” said Gumm. “It
means a class of offenders can come and go without having
to notify local law enforcement—that’s a weakness
in our law that puts border areas at risk.”
Gumm, a Democrat from Durant, said the bill would require
convicted sex offenders with spouses living in Oklahoma
to register with local law enforcement within two days of
entering the state, regardless of where they were convicted.
“When you consider the fact that just one pedophile
can have literally dozens of victims, the threat to Oklahoma
children can’t be underestimated,” Gumm said.
“We need to do everything in our power to protect
them from these predators. For parents, knowledge is power
when it comes to protecting children.”
Failure to comply with Oklahoma’s Sex Offender Registration
law is a felony offense punishable by up to five years in
prison and/or up to $5,000 in fines.
SB 1096 now moves to the House of Representatives for further
consideration.
For
more information contact:
Senate
Communications Division- (405) 521-5774
