Legislation to Strengthen Sex Offender Law Clears Senate

Sen. Jay Paul Gumm discusses proposed changes to strengthen Oklahoma's sex offender registration law.

The State Senate has given its unanimous approval to a measure requiring out-of-state sex offenders to register with local law enforcement if they have a spouse who lives in Oklahoma. The bill would also shorten the amount of time convicted sex offenders have to register with the Department of Corrections and local police from three to two days.

Sen. Jay Paul Gumm is the author of Senate Bill 1096. He said the idea for the legislation came from a constituent worried about protecting his grandchildren from sex offenders living across the border in Texas that are married to Oklahomans. Gumm’s district borders north Texas.

“There was great concern that by ‘hiding out’ across the border, a sex offender could avoid Oklahoma’s sex offender registration law,” said Gumm. “It means a class of offenders can come and go without having to notify local law enforcement—that’s a weakness in our law that puts border areas at risk.”

Gumm, a Democrat from Durant, said the bill would require convicted sex offenders with spouses living in Oklahoma to register with local law enforcement within two days of entering the state, regardless of where they were convicted.

“When you consider the fact that just one pedophile can have literally dozens of victims, the threat to Oklahoma children can’t be underestimated,” Gumm said. “We need to do everything in our power to protect them from these predators. For parents, knowledge is power when it comes to protecting children.”

Failure to comply with Oklahoma’s Sex Offender Registration law is a felony offense punishable by up to five years in prison and/or up to $5,000 in fines.

SB 1096 now moves to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

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Senate Communications Division- (405) 521-5774