2010 Session:
Lawmakers Wrap Up Work For Year
 Jessica's
Law Changes Approved
Thank you so much for making calls and
emailing my colleagues on behalf of the children of Maryland.
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With less than two hours in the session,
the Maryland General Assembly tonight unanimously approved a
compromise with the House of Delegates on a bill that would
expand Jessica's Law.
The bill would increase the sentence for the second degree rape
of a child under 13 from five years to 15 years to life.
The Senate approved its version of the compromise just after
9:30 p.m.
The House of Delegates approved an identical version just after
10 p.m.
A conference committee added the language on the sentencing a
bill that makes changes to the state's sex offender registry to
make it comply with federal law. It would require an offender to
report all addresses that they frequently visit to the state
police, in addition to the address of their primary residence.
Until today, the House and Senate could not agree on a longer
sentence.
The House bill had passed a bill increasing the sentence to 15
years to life in prison. A Senate bill had increased the
sentence to 20 years to life.
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Senator Jacobs with Mark Lunsford at the
recent hearings.
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Baltimore County Senator Jim Brochin told
WBAL News that the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, of
which he is a member, has agreed to vote on the House version of
the bill.
The deal comes after the Senate bill's sponsor, Republican Nancy
Jacobs ... [said] she'd accept the 15 year sentence.
Governor Martin O'Malley told WBAL News that he would sign which
ever bill lawmakers approve.
Supporters of Jessica's Law held a news conference at the State
House [Monday] morning to push for passage of the bill. Among
those attending, the family of Sarah Foxwell, the Eastern Shore
girl killed late last year, allegedly by a registered sex
offender. Her death prompted lawmakers to consider a number of
bills this year related to sex offenders.
Jennifer Foxwell, the mother of Sarah Foxwell, told reporters
that she was appalled lawmakers have waited so long to approve
longer prison sentences. She walked into the Maryland State
House with Sarah's aunt, Tracey Powell, Wicomico County Sheriff
Mike Lewis and Joan Harris, president of Citizens for Jessica's
Law, to push for the strongest bill.
"We really need to be advocates for the rest of the children in
the state of Maryland and all across the country to make sure
that we do protect our children," Foxwell said.
Gov. Martin O'Malley made increased supervision of sex offenders
a priority this year. Supervision will vary by individual but
could include GPS monitoring or in person visits.
[excerpted from WBAL
online]
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God bless you.
Senator Nancy Jacobs
Senate Minority Whip
Harford and Cecil County
Web sites:
nancyjacobs.com
mdsenategop.com
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