House OKs stricter monitoring of sex predators

BOISE – Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s bill to increase monitoring of violent sexual predators and significantly lengthen prison sentences for some sex crimes unanimously passed the House on Thursday.

“It sends the message that if you are a violent sexual predator, you better find some place else to live,” said Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake, who sponsored the bill.

SB 1312 changes the requirements for address verification by violent sexual predators to every month instead of every three months. Also, among other things, it extends the maximum sentence for sexual exploitation of a child from 15 to 30 years, and from 25 years to life for incest.

It also adds a 10 year maximum sentence for those found guilty of indecent exposure for a second time.

The bill now awaits Kempthorne’s signature.