CRG Dems push for offender legislation

Dems push for offender legislation
Rod Boshart

DES MOINES - Democrats who control the Iowa Senate said they plan to forge ahead today with legislation intended to establish safe zones around schools, parks and other places where children congregate to better protect them from sexual predators.

The safe zones provision -- where offenders could not be present without written permission from the authority in charge near schools, child-care facilities, arcades, public parks, swimming pools, libraries and other places -- has been part of a more expansive proposal to expand protections against sexual offenders that has been discussed for much of the 2007 session.

But backers now worry the package may stall and they want to push ahead with pieces they believe have consensus to get passed and to the governor's desk yet this session.

Sen. Keith Kreiman, D-Bloomfield, said majority Democrats have decided to proceed with the debate to "kick start the process and get some movement from Republicans and Democrats" in hopes of forging an agreement this year.

"I think it's going to be much more difficult to get it done next year than it would be this year," Kreiman said, given that 2008 is an election year. "I just think it's too important of an issue to not get something done," he added.

Senate GOP Leader Mary Lundby of Marion said Republicans are insisting that there be no change in Iowa's current law that bars offenders convicted of crimes with minors from residing within 2,000 feet of a school or daycare center.

"We're willing to look at additional money for monitoring and assessments. We're willing to look at improvements that make it safer, but we're not willing to do away with the 2,000-foot rule," said Lundby. "We're not interested in making it easier for criminals."