Sex offender bill backed by Gov. Jindal clears Senate, nears final passage

5-9-2012 Louisiana:

A bill that would ban convicted child sex offenders from using social networking sites cleared the Senate on Tuesday and remained one step from final passage.

Senators voted 37-0 for House Bill 620 by Rep. Ledricka Thierry, D-Opelousas, sending it back to the House for approval of mainly technical changes.

The bill is a major element of Gov. Bobby Jindal's anti-crime package this session.

A Jindal-supported bill by Thierry last year that banned sexual offenders' access to social media was thrown out by U.S. District Court Judge Brian Jackson of Baton Rouge for being overbroad and unconstitutional.

Jackson said the law last year would have prevented a sex offender from accessing the Internet, including job, news, sports and governmental sites.

Thierry's bill this year would ban from "social networking" sites -- mainly dating sites --sex offenders convicted of any sex crime with a minor, as well as offenders who are required to register with state and parish police for convictions on charges of indecent behavior with juveniles, pornography involving juveniles, computer-aided solicitation of minors and video voyeurism.

A first conviction under the proposed new law would mean up to 10 years in jail and a maximum $10,000 fine. The sentence could not be served on probation nor suspended.

Repeat offenders would have to serve at least five years and up to 20 years in jail, and fined up to $20,000. That sentence also could not be suspended or served on probation. ..Source.. by Ed Anderson