OH- Bill Would Name Sex Offenders Who Live In Nursing Homes

Here we have a lawmaker who fails to address the issues that surround a sex offender's need for a nursing home, looking only at welll known myths and sound bites. One would hope that lawmakers would resolve issues without prejudices and biases such as found here, and look for real resolves to help all those who have needs.

6-11-2009 Ohio:

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A state lawmaker wants to require nursing homes to notify residents and their families when a sex offender moves into the facility.

Under current law, not only is notification not required, but nursing homes are not allowed to turn away applicants for being sex offenders, 10TV's Kevin Landers reported.

Sen. Capri Cafaro, D-Hubbard, is sponsoring Senate Bill 130, which would require licensed nursing care facilities to notify residents and their families that a Tier 3 sex offender is living there.

Notification would also be required if a person was imprisoned for a felony any time during the 12-month period of their application for admission.

"This is their home. It's not a hotel. It's not a hospital. It's where they live," Cafaro told 10TV News. "Right now,

where people live, there is a notification requirement. We're just trying to do the same thing (for nursing homes)."

Nursing home operators worry that notification will put them in a difficult legal position.

"What is the answer when (family members) come to the facility and say, 'Well, we don't want this person living next door to our loved one? What are you going to do about it?' " said Peter Van Runkle of the Ohio Health Care Association, which represents nursing home. "We are not legally allowed to refuse to admit someone that we have the ability to take care of because of their past offenses."

Watch 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for additional information. ..Source.. by WBNS 10TV