Senate Democrats Call on House Republicans to Join Bipartisan Effort to Pass Jessica's Law

Renewed Call for Action During Special Session

Photo By: Tim King

(SALEM) - After working behind the scenes for months, Senate Democrats last week made public their intention to pass Jessica`s Law during special session and released a comprehensive proposal that goes beyond both the House bill from last session and this year`s proposed ballot measure.

`The Legislature has an opportunity to lead on this issue, and our proposal provides a roadmap for doing exactly that," said Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown.

Today, Brown welcomed an announcement indicating that Senate Republicans also are willing to pass Jessica`s Law during special session.

`I`m glad that the Senate is now united and that our Senate Republican colleagues agree with us that this issue warrants the Legislature`s attention during special session ` now we just have to convince the House leadership to get on board," said Brown. `I also agree with Senate Republicans that this important measure should not be tied to any other subject matter and stands on its own as a legislative imperative for special session."

The Democratic proposal to toughen penalties for sexual predators corrects many of the problems with the watered-down bill that the House Republicans passed in the final hours of the 2005 session. By sending that bill to the Senate with less than a week left in session, House Republicans knew there would be inadequate time to address its deficiencies.

The Democratic proposal adds the following provisions missing from the 2005 House legislation:

Increased mandatory minimums for all first-degree sexual predators who commit their crimes using force; Increased mandatory minimums for all first-degree sexual predators who victimize mentally and physically incapacitated people; and increased mandatory minimums for kidnapping in furtherance of a sex crime.

`Under the House bill, a 45-year-old adult who is convicted of violently raping a 13-year-old child would not be subject to an increased mandatory minimum," noted Brown. `Under our proposal, that rapist and all violent rapists will be subject to increased mandatory minimums, as well as lifetime monitoring."