by Jen Rehill
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, August 15, 2007) – Attempting to solicit sex with a minor online would become a crime in Pennsylvania under new legislation introduced at the state Capitol.
Pennsylvania enacted its version of Megan’s Law in 1996. The law was amended in 2004 to make the name, address and photograph of convicted sex offenders available on the internet.
But State Representative Rick Taylor, a Democrat from Montgomery County says the law still has some weak points.
“Within my district there was a soccer coach who was text messaging a thirteen year old and it wasn’t until that person met at the rendezvous point that he was picked up, but for a while he was soliciting.”
Taylor says his legislation will update the law.
“This bill makes a provision for any solicitation online can be a criminal offense...”
In addition Taylor’s bill would forbid a convicted sex offender from living within twenty-five hundred feet of an elementary school, daycare and public parks. And while on parole, those convicted of offenses against a minor would have to wear an electronic monitoring device.
Taylor’s legislation will be considered at a public hearing of the House Children and Youth Committee on August 21st.
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About PRCN's - Scott Detrow
- pubradionews
- Scott Detrow came to the Capitol from WITF-FM, where he covered Central Pennsylvania news and anchored local "All Things Considered" segments. Much of his reporting focused on the 2008 presidential primary and general election, as well as the Pennsylvania National Guard. Detrow has also covered New York City politics for WFUV-FM, earning a distinction from the New York Press Club, and won a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for a radio documentary on South Africa's AIDS pandemic in 2007. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Fordham University with degrees in political science and English.