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Gov.
Blagojevich signs law that further restricts child sex offenders and
methamphetamine producers
Senate
Bill 1397 increases punishments for sex offenders, establishes meth
ingredient sales tracking pilot program
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[October 09, 2007]
SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich
signed legislation Friday that puts additional restrictions on child
sex offenders and producers of methamphetamine. Senate Bill 1397,
sponsored by state Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, and state Rep.
Deborah L. Graham, D-Oak Park, includes several provisions that
crack down on sex offenders, including increasing maximum jail
sentences for several types of sex offenses and requiring sex
offenders to notify law enforcement within 72 hours of a change in
address, employment or school, rather than the current five days.
The law also creates a pilot program in southern Illinois'
Williamson County to track the sale of ingredients used to produce
methamphetamine.
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"We must do everything we can to keep our children and our
communities safe," Blagojevich said. "I am happy to sign this law
that will keep our children safer by implementing common-sense
restrictions on sex offenders and helping parents to be more aware
of the sex offenders living in their communities. This law will also
help law enforcement keep track of individuals who are buying
ingredients for meth so that we can stop them before their products
get into the hands of our children."
Senate Bill 1397 adds the crime of aggravated child pornography
to the list of sex offenses. Now, individuals convicted of
aggravated child pornography will be restricted from residing,
loitering or being present within 500 feet of a school, park or
other facility providing services to children under 18 years of age.
This already applies to individuals convicted of other sex offenses
against children and adults. A violation of this provision would
result in a prison sentence of one to three years and-or a fine of
up to $25,000.
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Prohibits sexual
predators and sex offenders who are on parole from possessing
prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction.
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Requires a sexual
predator to pay the costs of electronic home monitoring.
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Increases the
maximum sentence for exploitation of a child from a Class 1
felony to a Class X felony, with the maximum sentence of 60
years in prison.
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Increases the
maximum penalty for predatory criminal sexual assault on
children under the age of 13 by a person 17 years or older to 60
years in prison.
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Adds the offense of
exploitation of a child as an aggravating factor that would
increase the penalty for criminal sexual assault from a Class 1
felony to a Class X felony, with a maximum sentence increasing
to 60 years in prison.
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"I was proud to sponsor Jessica's Law because I believe that keeping
communities notified of registrations changes will help to curb
contact between sex offenders and children," said Harmon, bill
sponsor in the Senate.
The legislation prohibits jailed sex offenders from receiving
good conduct credit unless they successfully participate in sex
offender treatment. The bill also creates a task force to study the
implementation, cost, placement and effectiveness of transitional
housing facilities for sex offenders released from facilities of the
Illinois Department of Corrections. The task force will include two
Illinois Department of Corrections members appointed by the
director, two members from the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, four
members each from the Senate and House of Representatives, and two
members from the governor's office.
The bill also creates the Williamson County Pilot Program to
collect and store electronic information pertaining to the sale of
meth ingredients. These electronic logs will contain the name,
address and ID type or number of a customer who is purchasing
products that can be used to manufacture methamphetamines. The logs
will also provide details of the transaction, such as the brand, the
amount of the drug, and the time and date of the purchase. It will
also record the pharmacy's name, address and the DEA code from
pharmacies in Franklin, Jackson, Johnson, Saline, Union or
Williamson counties and any other pharmacy that wishes to
participate.
"This law will provide people in these counties with
unprecedented tools to track the purchases of products that can be
used to make methamphetamines," said Graham, bill sponsor in the
House. "This program is an unprecedented step toward stopping the
people who produce this toxin before they have the opportunity to do
so."
The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2008.
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
