Legislative update: House passes Jessica's Law

House passes Jessica’s Law

Jessica’s Law (HB 2314), sponsored by Rep. John Hood, was passed unanimously on the House floor. The bill is named after Jessica Lunsford, a Florida youth who was raped and killed by a repeat sex offender.

This bill sets the minimum period of incarceration for rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery of a child at 25 years.

Additionally, the offender shall remain on community supervision through GPS-satellite monitoring for the remainder of the person’s life and may not petition a court for release from that supervision.

The bill is part of Governor Bredesen’s legislative agenda for the 105th General Assembly. The Administration originally included $7.7 million in the FY 2007-2008 appropriations bill to cover the costs of longer prison sentences and expected increases in the inmate population of child sex offenders. An amendment was added to provide an additional $1.9 million for GPS devices that convicted child predators would be required to wear for life.

Illegal immigration bill advances

House Bill 729, also sponsored by Rep. Hood, passed out of the Budget subcommittee of Finance Ways & Means and will be heard by the full committee next week. This bill creates the criminal offenses of recklessly employing an illegal alien, knowingly employing an illegal alien, and knowingly encouraging or inducing an illegal alien to enter the state for the purpose of employing such illegal alien. Offenses can result in up to $50,000 in fines.


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