Benton's bill regarding sex offender registration of e-mail address and Web site information approved by Senate

February 20, 2008

OLYMPIA…A bill sponsored by Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, which would authorize county sheriffs to collect e-mail addresses and Web site information from sex offenders when they register, passed the Senate unanimously yesterday. 

Senate Bill 6210 would authorize county sheriff departments to request e-mail address and Web site information from a sex or kidnapping offender who is required to register and to forward that information to the Washington State Patrol (WSP). 

The Washington State Patrol is permitted to share this information with online organizations or businesses, such as MySpace, for the purposes of prescreening users and comparison to their database. The business or organization must agree not to further distribute the information. 

“Sex offenders have been known to lure their victims using the Internet,” Benton said. “We should do whatever we can to stop this abusive use of technology and protect people from these predators – especially teenagers who are so excited about sites like MySpace as a way to make friends and have fun.”

SB 6210 is now before the House of Representatives for consideration.  

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 Additional Contact: Penny Drost (360) 786-7522 or drost.penny@leg.wa.gov