Senate Approves Neighborhood Protection Act

The full Senate has voted unanimously for a bill giving neighborhoods across the state greater protection from rapists and child molesters. Sen. Glenn Coffee is author of Senate Bill 1754, also known as the Neighborhood Protection Against Sex Offenders Act. "Just about everyone from time to time will need the services of a plumbing or electrical company or some other business that sends workers into their home. What this act will do is let people know if an employee of that business is on the sex offender registry before that person is sent into their home," said Coffee R-Oklahoma City. "This would give property owners the opportunity to ask the business to send someone else if they feel that person would put a family member at risk."

Under the provisions of SB 1754, businesses that send employees into residences would be required to verify whether their employees are listed on the state's sex offenders registry. If the employee is a registered sex offender, the employer must provide written notice identifying that employee, the business and why they will be doing work in that neighborhood.

"It is my understanding that many nursing homes in Oklahoma already ask venders to run background checks on any employees who may be working inside that facility," Coffee said. "I really think it is a good idea--by placing this concept into our statutes, I think we can give even greater protection to homeowners, nursing home residents and other facilities."

The measure now moves to the House of Representatives.