OLYMPIA…State Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, praised the Senate today for passing his bill to tighten the grip on the most dangerous registered sex offenders.

“I don’t think just saying sign up when you get in town is enough,” Benton said. “You can’t track these offenders if you don’t know where they are. They need to be watched and they need to know we are watching them.”

Benton’s measure, Substitute Senate Bill 6519, requires Level III sex offenders to check in with the local sheriff’s office every 90 days for five years. If they violate this requirement, the five years keeps running. At any time during these five years, the sheriff’s office may photograph the offender to keep his file up-to-date so the file will reflect any significant change in appearance.

“Level III sex offenders are the most likely to re-offend and therefore pose the most danger to our children and other vulnerable persons,” Benton said.

Benton’s measure garnered bipartisan sponsorship and won a bipartisan unanimous “do pass” recommendation from the Senate Committee on Human Services and Corrections.

“I think working with the other side of the aisle on an issue like this is critical,” Benton said. “Every region of this state has registered sex offenders that are a potential threat to our families and our neighbors. We can do more to make those we care about safer if we team up.”

SSB 6519 passed unanimously and is now before the House of Representatives for consideration.

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For more information contact Penny Drost at (360) 786-7522
or penny.drost@leg.wa.gov