The-daily-record.com : Sex offender rules House holds first hearing on two bills.
COLUMBUS -- Two bills that would increase penalties against sex offenders who live or enter areas near schools and other areas frequented by children had their first hearing in the Ohio House on Wednesday.
House Bill 11 would establish criminal penalties for individuals who live too close to schools, recreation centers and would establish a means for courts to remove those individuals from their residences.
House Bill 13 would prohibit certain sex offenders from being on school, pre-school or day-care center properties and would establish criminal penalties for those who break the law.
The Democratic sponsors of both bills spoke before the House's criminal justice committee Wednesday.
Rep. Tracy Maxwell Heard, from the Columbus area, offered HB 11 after hearing from constituents about the disproportionate number of known offenders who were allowed to live near schools.
Rep. Jennifer Garrison, a Democrat from Marietta and is one of the primary sponsors of the legislation.
Offenders would be banned from school properties; any found guilty of breaking the law would face six-12 months in jail.
You must call, email and write Reps. Heard and Garrison, and your Ohio Representative repeatedly to tell them to vote 'no' on these two bills. Find Ohio House Representatives here: http://www.house.state.oh.us/
To view these bills search for bill numbers 11 and 13 at http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/search.cfm
