Neighborhood Protection Against Sex Offenders ActGoes to Full Senate

The full Senate will soon vote on a measure to give neighborhoods across the state greater protection from rapists and child molesters. Sen. Glenn Coffee is author of Senate Bill 1754, which would create the Neighborhood Protection Against Sex Offenders Act. The bill won approval in the Senate Business and Labor Committee on Monday.

"There are many businesses that send employees out into residences where children, elderly or vulnerable adults live. We want to make sure those businesses notify the owners of a residence before a convicted sex offender is sent to do work in that home or facility," said Coffee, R-Oklahoma City.

Under the provisions of SB 1754, businesses that send employees into residences would be required to verify whether their employees are listed on the state's sex offenders' registry. If the employee is a registered sex offender, the employer must provide written notice identifying that employee, the business and why they will be doing work in that neighborhood.

"I have four young children at home. If a company I was doing business with sent an electrician, a plumber or anyone else who would be working inside my house, I'd certainly want to know if that person was a registered sex offender," Coffee said.

"If the sex offender knows their background is being made available, I think it will dramatically reduce the odds of that individual taking advantage of their job to commit further sex crimes. I believe that will help make our neighborhoods and our families safer."