SR25

A Senate Resolution urging the United States Congress to enact H.R.5138, the “International Megan’s Law of 2010.”

Whereas, The “International Megan’s Law of 2010,” H.R.5138, seeks to protect children from sexual exploitation by preventing and monitoring the international travel of sex offenders who pose a risk of committing a sex offense against a minor; and

Whereas, In October of 1994, Governor Christine Todd Whitman signed into law in New Jersey a package of bills which became known as “Megan’s Law” requiring the registration of sex offenders and providing for community notification when a sex offender moves into a neighborhood; and

Whereas, New Jersey’s law, named in memory of Megan Kanka, a Hamilton Township child who was sexually assaulted and murdered by a convicted sex offender residing in her neighborhood, inspired the federal Megan’s Law and similar laws passed in other states; and

Whereas, Despite these laws, children all over the world continue to be sexually abused and exploited, and the International Labour Organization estimates that each year 1.8 million children are forced to engage in prostitution and pornography worldwide; and

Whereas, An advocacy group, “End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes,” has reported that there is a developing child sex tourism crisis where people travel from one place to another to engage in sexual acts with minors; and

Whereas, In order to protect children worldwide, it is essential that law enforcement in this country be able to identify both high risk child sex offenders traveling abroad and child sex offenders from other countries entering the United States, and it is equally important that law enforcement in other countries be able to do the same; and

Whereas, Because existing mechanisms in place for law enforcement entities to exchange this information are insufficient to adequately protect children at home and abroad, a new system such as the one created by H.R.5138 is crucially important to protect children in New Jersey and elsewhere; and

Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for this House to urge the United State Congress to pass, and the President to sign into law, “International Megan’s Law of 2010,” H.R.5138; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

1. The Senate of the State of New Jersey respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to pass H.R.5138, the “International Megan’s Law of 2010.”

2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Senate President, and attested by the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

This Senate resolution urges Congress to enact H.R.5138, “International Megan’s Law of 2010” which seeks to protect children from sexual exploitation by preventing and monitoring the international travel of sex offenders who pose a risk of committing a sex offense against a minor.

In October of 1994, Governor Christine Todd Whitman signed into law in New Jersey a package of bills which became known as “Megan’s Law” requiring the registration of sex offenders and providing for community notification when a sex offender moves into a neighborhood. Megan’s Law has become a model for legislation in other states and at the federal level intended to protect children.

Children all over the world continue to be sexually abused and exploited; the International Labour Organization estimates that each year 1.8 million children are forced to engage in prostitution and pornography worldwide.

In order to protect children, it is essential that law enforcement in this country be able to identify both high risk child sex offenders traveling abroad and child sex offenders from other countries entering the United States, and it is equally important that law enforcement in other countries be able to do the same.

Because existing mechanisms in place for law enforcement entities to exchange this information are insufficient, a new system such as the one created by H.R.5138 is crucially important to protect children in New Jersey and elsewhere.