Governor Signs Bill Enlarging Zone of Safety for Children

State Senator Jay Paul Gumm said Oklahoma now has a stronger law on the books when it comes to protecting children from sexual predators. That’s after Gov. Brad Henry signed Senate Bill 2064 into law on Tuesday. The measure, by Gumm, a Democrat from Durant and Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, increases the “zone of safety” around schools, childcare facilities, playgrounds and parks.

Under the previous statute, sex offenders were prohibited from loitering within 300 feet of those places where children congregate. The new law extends the zone of safety to being within 500 feet of the locations.

“Senate Bill 2064 actually does two things. Its purpose is to keep convicted sex offenders farther away from children and teenagers, and it puts new restrictions on sex offenders who must enter zones of safety in order to pick up or drop off their own children,” Gumm said.

According to the new law, registered sex offenders who have legitimate business in the area only could be within that zone of safety for a “reasonable” amount of time and would have to inform the school or childcare facility of their status as a sex offender prior to entering the area. Further, the offender would have to inform the facility of the specific time he or she will be in the zone.

“I want to thank my fellow legislators for supporting this measure, as well as Representative Terrill for agreeing to serve as House author—and of course, we deeply appreciate Governor Henry’s support,” Gumm said. “Anything we can do to better protect Oklahoma children from these predators is going to make our state a better place for families and law-abiding citizens.”