Legislation to assist in the tracking of registered sex offenders failed in the Assembly Public Safety Committee by a 4-3 vote.

“The failure of SB 629 was a body blow to tracking unregistered sex offenders,” said Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich.  “Requiring offenders to renew their drivers license annually would help law enforcement account for the nearly 25% of offenders who do not register and remain at large.  Through this measure, police agencies would have been able to cross reference with the DMV to create a more accurate database to track sex offenders.” 

“However, by killing this measure, liberals in the legislature have made the rights of sex offenders a higher priority than the safety of the children and families they prey upon.  With recent reports of a proliferation of sex crimes against children, it is imperative that the legislature reconsider this legislation to provide law enforcement the proper tools necessary to track sex predators and protect the public,” he said.

A bipartisan measure in the full Senate, 4 Committee Democrats – Mark Leno, Mervyn Dymally, Loni Hancock and Jackie Goldberg — voted to kill SB 629.  Two Republicans and one Democrat voted for the measure.