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Rep. Jim Hackworth - House District 33
IMMEDIATE RELEASE May
10, 2007
‘Jessica’s Law’ Gets GPS
Monitor Amendment;
House Passes
Irresponsible Dog Owners Bill
NASHVILLE (May 10) –The
House Budget Subcommittee advanced “Jessica’s Law” this week after Gov.
Phil Bredesen and legislative leaders negotiated an amendment to the
bill that funds global positioning system (GPS) devices worn by child
sex offenders.
“The GPS provision adds
more teeth to the Tennessee bill, and follows similar legislation
enacted by at least a dozen other states. More than nine
‘Jessica’s Law’ bills were filed this session, and this particular
measure represents the combined hard work of the governor and a group of
dedicated lawmakers,” said Rep.
Jim Hackworth, D-Anderson
County.
The bill moved to the
full House Finance, Ways and Means Committee after the primary sponsor
received the governor’s funding letter that added $1.9 million for the
GPS devices. Convicted child predators released under community
supervision would be required to wear the tracking devices for the rest
of their lives.
The major provision of
“Jessica’s Law” increases sentences for child rape to a minimum of 25
years in prison. Child rapists are also ineligible for probation
after serving 15 years of the new minimum sentence.
“Offenders sentenced
under lesser changes may still be released on probation after serving 15
years. All offenders regardless must notify the state’s sex
offender registry of their current addresses and wear the GPS monitoring
devices after they are placed under community supervision,” said
Hackworth.
The Bredesen
Administration previously included $7.7 million in the proposed
2007-2008 appropriations bill to cover the costs of longer prison
sentences for child rapists and concurrent increases in the inmate
population of child sex offenders.
“Jessica’s Law,” or the
“Tennessee Jessica Lunsford Sexual Predator Act of 2007,” is named for
Jessica Lunsford, a 9-year-old Florida girl who was abducted, raped, and
murdered three years ago.
“During investigations,
authorities discovered that the main suspect was a child sex predator
with multiple convictions. He hadn’t updated his whereabouts with
the state’s sexual offender registry after moving to his victim’s
neighborhood. Because authorities lost track of him, the Lunsford
family was victimized because they didn’t know about the perpetrator’s
criminal record,” explained
Hackworth.
In other business, the
House passed the “Dianna Acklen Act of 2007” in final action. This
bill holds dog owners liable for injuries to other persons caused by
their animals. The owner is responsible regardless of any
knowledge of the dog’s past or present viciousness. Similar tough
dog bite laws are on the books in 32 other states.
“Owners aren’t
prosecuted if their dogs are protecting them from attack or from
trespassers. Military and police dogs on duty are also exempt.
A person who is temporarily keeping a dog for the owner, however, can be
held liable if the animal injures someone,” said
Hackworth.
The measure is named for
a 60-year-old woman who was brutally killed last year by marauding dogs
as she jogged alongside a public highway in Franklin County. She
was fewer than two miles from her home.
“Her daughter and a
Franklin County sheriff who testified in favor of stricter penalties
witnessed the floor vote that nullified seventeenth-century English
common law on dog ownership still in the state code,” added
Hackworth.
Another significant
pet-related bill also saw final action in the House. This measure
protects domestic animals from known abusers who threaten to injure pets
owned by other adults or children in vulnerable situations.
If pets are physically
harmed or threatened by an abuser, recourse is possible by placing the
animals in foster care. Owners can also claim legal custody and
remove the animals from the abuser’s control.
“This bill targets
physical and emotional abusers who try to manipulate their victims by
hurting their pets. Research has shown a connection between violence
against animals and violence against people. Some abused people
won’t move to safe shelters because they’re afraid of abandoning their
dogs or cats,” said Hackworth.
CONTACT:
Kenneth Townsend, Press Secretary, House Democratic Caucus, at
615-741-6620 or email
kenneth.townsend@legislature.state.tn.us.
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