FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2001
Assembly Committee To Consider Requiring Registration
Of Sex Offenders On College Campuses
Move Supported By Campus Police, Crime Victims
Sacramento, CA-Convicted sex offenders would be required to register with campus police when they become enrolled in or employed on the campus of a college or university under a bill being considered this morning by a California Assembly committee. Offenders must already register with local police or sheriffs offices. The proposal is supported by campus police who want the same type of information other police agencies get.
"This legislation will give college police the information necessary to fully investigate sex crimes and protect our communities from sexual predators," said Detective Sally Miller of the Santa Rosa Junior College police department in Sonoma county.
The Public Safety committee will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, in room 126 of the State Capitol, to consider AB 4 authored by Assemblymembers Patricia C. Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) and Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced). "We know that parents worry a great deal about the safety of their children when they are away at college," said Bates. "My legislation will help campus police defend students and school staff from sexual predators."
The legislation is also supported by several campus organizations, including the California State University-Sacramento Women's Resource Center, and Security On Campus, Inc. (SOC) a national non-profit campus safety and victims' rights organization. An SOC representative, Daniel Carter the group's vice-president, will testify in support of the bill and be available to answer questions about recently enacted corresponding federal legislation.