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Lawmakers
motion for vote on Jessica's Law Plus,
child protection measures
Rep. Jan Shabro, R-Lake Tapps and
Rep.
Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe today motioned for a floor vote on House
Bill 2476, titled “Jessica’s Law Plus,” which, if passed would be the
toughest child protection law in the nation. The motion to bring the
bill before the House failed to pass on a party-line vote of 42 to 55.
“We’re serious about protecting our children,” said Pearson. “If anyone
doubts that our motion was anything more than that, they are sorely
mistaken. It’s past time we enact appropriate sentences that reflect the
devastating nature of crimes that sex predators commit against innocent
victims. Jessica’s Law Plus, will do just that.”
HB 2476 was modeled after Florida’s Jessica Lunsford Act or “Jessica’s
Law” as it is commonly called. The proposal would strengthen penalties
for sex predators that are known to the victim, create mandatory
sentencing proportionate to the nature of the crime and enact a strict
monitoring system with penalties for sex predators who refuse to
register or register as homeless.
“We’ve taken all of the elements of the original Jessica’s Law, but have
added a ‘Plus’ because our bill goes even further to protect children
than several of the other bills being introduced this session. The most
important difference in House Bill 2476 is that it would require
mandatory sentencing for sex predators whether they are known or unknown
by the victim” said Shabro. “We don’t think that sex-predators who know
the victim should be treated any different than strangers. The fact is
most sex crimes against children are committed by someone in a position
of trust and known to the victim.
“We don’t need any more hearings, we need action,” said Shabro. “Do we
really need to hear from victims one more time to know that they want
sex predators out of their neighborhoods, punishment that fits the crime
and a reliable tracking system that better monitors violent sex
predators?”
Pearson added that the victims of these heinous crimes serve a life
sentence of their own.
“It’s a bell that cannot be un-rung for these innocent victims and,
tragically, a life event that truly changes who that child is or will
be. So I’m not quite sure why legislators would object to a lifelong
punishment for a violent sex predator.
“To ask the citizens of this state to settle for laws that protect
rights of sex predators more than victims does a real disservice to the
victims,” said Shabro. “Protecting our children and aiding their
families should be our main concern, not worrying about how violent
predators will feel when they are locked up for life.”
Shabro, who is the prime sponsor of the Jessica’s Law Plus legislation,
said she was pleased to have her colleagues vote with her despite the
majority party voting against acting on this “get tough” bill.
Pearson and Shabro vowed to work with victims, their families and
legislators from both parties to adopt legislation this session that
puts in place penalties that match the violent and devastating nature of
a sex predator’s crime.
House Bill 2476 was ultimately referred to the Criminal Justice and
Corrections Committee for further consideration.
# # #
For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer:
(360) 786-7252
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