FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Senator Shamp Champions Legislation
to Protect Arizona's Children PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senator Janae Shamp is helping protect Arizona's most vulnerable population from criminals who've committed dangerous crimes against children (DCAC). She has had multiple bills this session signed into law that ensure communities are informed on their release into society.
SB 1236 will now require additional level one sex offenders convicted of a DCAC, the most heinous crimes against children, to be published on the internet sex offender website.
Convicted sex offenders are assigned as level one, level two, or level three based upon their perceived risk of reoffending. Under current law, many level one offenders are not required to be listed on the state's offender website, leading to an unawareness among parents, coaches, teachers, and the public at large on the criminal past of these individuals who may very well have subsequent encounters with children.
SB 1404 will ensure schools are notified if a parent of a child attending that school is a registered sex offender convicted of a DCAC. This new law particularly addresses situations where children are attending a school out of the district in which they live.
"This session, I made it my goal to be a living nightmare for sex offenders," said Senator Shamp. "I introduced several bills, including SB 1236 and SB 1404, to protect our state's most innocent and vulnerable, while increasing consequences for criminals who commit these horrific crimes. DCACs include sex trafficking, mutilation, prostitution, and commercial sexual exploitation. These crimes have lifelong, and potentially deadly effects on a child. Every parent and every school deserves to know who these criminals are in order to better protect their children."
This legislation takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the legislature.
###
For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus