COLUMBUS- Senate Democratic Leader Capri S. Cafaro (D-Hubbard) today called on the General Assembly to strengthen Ohio’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Law to protect residents of long-term care facilities. Senator Cafaro urged Senators to support Senate Bill 130 during testimony presented to the Judiciary and Criminal Justice Committee.
“Too often residents of long term care facilities remain unaware of sex offenders living only a few feet away,” said Senator Cafaro, the lead sponsor of SB 130. “Current law requires county sheriffs to notify residents if sex offenders live within 1,000 feet of their home. However, the law does not require operators of long-term care facilities to inform residents or their guardians when an offender moves into the facility.”
Senate Bill 130 would require the operators of long-term care facilities to distribute Tier III sex offender notifications to the facility’s residents and their guardians. Facilities that do not fulfill the requirement would be subject to a fine of $100 a day for each violation.
There are currently more than 100 registered sex offenders residing in Ohio’s long term care facilities, according to an analysis done by the Columbus Dispatch. About two thirds of those offenders are classified as Tier III, the most serious classification under Ohio law. “I believe Senate Bill 130 will ensure that all Ohioans receive the notification they rightly deserve,” said Senator Cafaro.
“Too often residents of long term care facilities remain unaware of sex offenders living only a few feet away,” said Senator Cafaro, the lead sponsor of SB 130. “Current law requires county sheriffs to notify residents if sex offenders live within 1,000 feet of their home. However, the law does not require operators of long-term care facilities to inform residents or their guardians when an offender moves into the facility.”
Senate Bill 130 would require the operators of long-term care facilities to distribute Tier III sex offender notifications to the facility’s residents and their guardians. Facilities that do not fulfill the requirement would be subject to a fine of $100 a day for each violation.
There are currently more than 100 registered sex offenders residing in Ohio’s long term care facilities, according to an analysis done by the Columbus Dispatch. About two thirds of those offenders are classified as Tier III, the most serious classification under Ohio law. “I believe Senate Bill 130 will ensure that all Ohioans receive the notification they rightly deserve,” said Senator Cafaro.
