Olson and Brown Make Child Protection an Early Bipartisan Priority for 2007

Lawmakers Spearheading Effort to Protect Children from Sex Abuse Grooming and Online Predators.

Oregon Senate

(SALEM) - One year after Democrats and Republicans in the Oregon Legislature came together to pass the landmark meth package, Senate Majority Leader Kate Brown (D-Portland) and Rep. Andy Olson (R-Albany) say they are laying the groundwork for another bipartisan anti-crime effort in 2007.

This time, the focus is on children, and the goal is safeguarding Oregon’s kids from the growing threats of sex abuse grooming and online solicitation.

“As a veteran of the State Police, I have seen firsthand the devastating consequences for children who are exposed to sexually explicit materials and become the victims of further sexual abuse,” said Olson. “As a member of the Legislature, I have an obligation to help law enforcement by giving them the tools they need to reduce the number of victims, and that’s what this effort is all about.”

Brown seconded Olson’s comments about the Legislature’s responsibility, and she also talked about the importance of updating our criminal laws to keep pace with changing technology.

“Last session, we took action to protect women and children against the increasing problem of video voyeurism, and we are committed to building on that success next session by cracking down on the sex predators who are increasingly using the internet to lure children into abusive relationships,” Brown said.

Brown and Olson have held several meetings with interested parties, including law enforcement personnel and civil liberties advocates, and they are drafting legislation that criminalizes sex abuse grooming and luring of minors. The lawmakers plan to have a bill ready for public review this fall, with the aim of introducing the legislation at the start of the 2007 session.