COLUMBUS (January 2, 2007) - Governor Bob Taft today signed two bills to strengthen Ohio's sexual offender laws. Substitute Senate Bill 245, known as Nicole's law, increases the level of offense for public indecency when the victim is a child. Amended Substitute Senate Bill 260, known as Jessica's law, increases punishment for rape or attempted rape if the victim is younger than 13.

"We have to use all the tools we can to deter sex offenders from preying on our most vulnerable citizens," said Taft. "Both of these bills strengthen Ohio's laws in regard to sex offenders, and will help protect our most important resource, our children."

Taft was joined at today's bill signing by bill sponsors state Senators Gary Cates (R-West Chester) and Steve Austria (R-Beavercreek). Nine-year-old Nicole Robertson, for whom S.B. 245 is named, attended the event with her parents Lori and Ron and brother Noah. Representatives from several sexual offender victim advocacy groups were also in attendance.

Substitute Senate Bill 245, sponsored by Senator Cates, increases the penalties for public indecency when the victim is a minor and the offender has a previous public indecency conviction, to require that a person charged with a sexually oriented offense or with public indecency who has a previous conviction of a sexually oriented offense or of public indecency appear before the court before the court sets bail, and to generally require the court to consider certain factors before setting bail for that person. The bill goes into effect 90 days after it is signed by the Governor and filed with the Secretary of State.

Amended Substitute Senate Bill 260, sponsored by Senator Austria, changes the penalties and conditions when a person is convicted of rape or attempted rape and the victim is less than 13; to increase the penalty for importuning and establish a presumption for a prison term if the victim is under 13; to require the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to notify sheriffs of the release of sex offenders and child-victim oriented offenders and to require BCII to include on its Internet sex offender database, and sheriffs who operate on the Internet a sex offender database, to include on the database the information received about the offender; to provide for the consideration of specified convictions of members of the household of a parent in making child custody determinations; to modify provision regarding protection orders for victims of sexually oriented offenses; and to declare an emergency. The bill contains an emergency clause and goes into immediate effect upon signature of the Governor and filing with the Secretary of State.

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Contact: Mark Rickel, Press Secretary, at (614) 644-0957.

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