House Republican Press Release

April 4, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

REP. GIEGLER BACK INITIATIVES TO PROTECT CONNECTICUT CHILDREN

Danbury High School Students Lobby At State Capitol For Upgrades To Sex Offender Registry

HARTFORD- State Representative Janice Giegler (R-Danbury, New Fairfield) today joined House Republican leaders in calling for measures that would provide Connecticut children more secure schools and greater protection from predators roaming the streets and cyber space. The proposals were unveiled during a press conference at the State Capitol on Tuesday. Rep. Giegler today hosted two students from the Danbury High School Peer Leadership Program who observed a Judiciary Committee meeting and public hearing. During the hearing, proposed legislation impacting child safety issues was reviewed.

Peer Leadership students Max Delahanty and Stephanie Steichen were accompanied to the State Capitol complex today by teacher Lisa Frese. The program recently undertook a community outreach initiative to help Danbury families identify sex offenders. In conjunction with the City of Danbury, it initiated the packets containing information on how to access the state website for registered sex offenders and public data of pictures, addresses and offense details of sex offenders living in Danbury.

The House Republican initiatives unveiled Tuesday includes measures to:

· Make schools safer by beefing up security and imposing single entrances for all buildings;

· Double the penalties for crimes committed in designated Child Safety Zones;

· Require school contractors to submit lists of employees for review by local school boards. Currently only teachers and janitors are covered;

· Post the “docket’’ of people convicted for sexual offences and make it available via the Internet and require updated compliance with offenders’ addresses and photos;

· Expand the state’s Child Identity System, including giving parents more opportunities to provide local law enforcement agencies critical information about their children;

· Work with Internet providers and other private sector companies to make the web more secure for young people.

“It is crucial to protect children from sexual predators who pray on their innocence,” said Rep. Giegler. “I am glad Max and Stephanie were able to see firsthand that members of the Legislature support initiatives like the ones they have championed. Their efforts can play a role in helping document the need for some of the legislation we are considering today.”