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Location: Green Forest, Arkansas, United States

We are a non-profit organization located in Green Forest, Arkansas serving women, children and families. To view our programs or to contact us please go to our website merlinfoundation.com.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Children's Safety Act

H.R. 3132, The Children's Safety Act of 2005, was on the floor of the House of Representatives today and it passed 371-52! This will strengthen sex offender laws as we know them. The bill will now go to the Senate.

As I am sure you know, in 1994 Congress passed the Jacob Wetterling CrimesAgainst Children and Sexually Violent Offenders Act which mandated that every state have a sex offender registry. This important new piece of legislation would create a comprehensive,NATIONAL system for sex offender registration and improve the exchange between states when sex offenders move from state to state-- something we have seen shut down all too often with terrible consequences. Furthermore, it would increase the penalties placed on offenders for failing to comply with the registration law.

If this bill were to be passed into law, new requirements would include: A national website containing information about all sex offenders in allstatesChanges in registry information immediately, electronically transmitted toall statesLaw enforcement notification of schools, child welfare agencies,youth-serving organizations, etc.... regarding the presence of a sex offender in the area. Lifetime registration for offenders with felony conviction. Felony offenders must verify registration biannually, in person. Offenders must notify law enforcement within 5 days of changes in registry information. Persons convicted of possession of child pornography must register. Federally recognized tribal lands will be covered by sex offender laws. Juveniles who convict sex crimes against children must also register.

This bill was originally introduced by Congressman Sensenbrenner (R-WI),Cong. Green (R-WI), Cong. DeLay (R-TX), Cong. Foley (R-FL), Cong. Poe(R-TX), Cong. Cramer (D-AL), Cong. Graves (R-MO), Cong. Gillmor (R-OH),Cong. Brown-Waite (R-FL) and Cong. Pomeroy (D-ND).

We will let you know when the bill goes to the Senate, so that you cancontact your Senators and encourage them to be supportive! For those of you that contacted your Members in the House, thank you.

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