Committee Approves Senator Browne's Sex Predator Bill

Legislation would require offenders register e-mail addresses, screen names

The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved legislation introduced by Senator Pat Browne (R-16) that would require convicted sex offenders to register their email addresses and online screen names with state authorities.

Senate Bill 490 would require sex offenders to provide that information to the Pennsylvania State Police as well as the state Board of Probation and Parole. Currently, sex offenders are required to register their residential addresses, employment and/or student information with authorities.

"It is clear that contact between sex offenders and children through electronic means such as email, the internet, chat rooms, and blogs is rising as a problem. These electronic communications have become a risk in terms of increasing the ability of sexual offenders to have contact with children," Senator Browne said.

"Senate Bill 490 bill would add electronic identities, emails, screen names, and other means of getting on to electronic messaging boards as things that sex offenders would have to report to the State Police," Senator Browne continued. "We can make sure law enforcement officials have the capability to track these activities as a way to provide the utmost protection for our children."

In addition to the requirement that offenders register their information, SB 490 also requires those who change their email addresses and/or instant messaging screen name to report those changes to state authorities within 48 hours.

Contact:

Lesley Crozier
(717) 787-1349