Lieu Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Sex Offender Laws

( Sacramento , CA ) – Assembly Member Ted Lieu, (D-Torrance), introduced AB 1900 which will close loopholes in California ’s sex offender law. 

“It is important that we do everything we can to make sure our children are safe from sexual predators,” said Lieu, father of two young children. “With AB 1900, we are one step closer to making our community a safer place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Sponsored by the California Attorney General, AB 1900 will clarify and strengthen current statutes related to registerable sex offenses.    

• Prohibits all registered offenders who have committed an act against a minor 16 years old and younger, from being alone with a minor in a work place.
  
• Ensures that a sexually violent predator who has murdered their victim be required to register as a sex offender once on parole.
  
• Adds conspiracy to commit or aiding and abetting the commission of any of the listed offenses to the list of offenses that require registration.
  
• Technical clean up relative to out of state sex offender registration and in-state re-registration requirements after a short incarceration.
  

Current Megan’s Law requires individuals convicted of specific sex crimes to register as a sex offender, as well as annually update their information with their local law enforcement agency. Since 1996, Megan’s Law has been a vital resource in making people aware of sex offenders residing in their community. However, through the course of implementation, the Attorney General has discovered several problems in the way California deals with sex offenders.  AB 1900 will close these gaps and ensure that our laws fully protect families and children. 

“AB 1900 will protect our children from convicted sex offenders by making it illegal for them to be alone with a child in the work place,” Lieu said.  “It is our job as legislators to arm the public with information about dangerous sex offenders and help secure the safety of their family and themselves.”

AB 1900 will be heard before the California State Assembly Committee on Public Safety for the first time in the next few months.