Stone Makes Second Run at GPS Monitoring for Sex Offenders

County legislators file bill....

   

Sen. Norman Stone said the state legislature should be more proactive on issues such as those involving sex offenses against minors. That's why we have so many laws now named after people — because we're being reactive." Credit Bryan P. Sears

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Some repeat sex offenders in Maryland could find themselves tethered to a GPS tracking unit if a bill sponsored by Sen. Norman Stone is passed during the current General Assembly session.

Under the bill filed by Stone, a Dundalk Democrat, sex offenders who have been convicted twice of an offense involving a minor and who are already required to be supervised for life by traditional means would have to wear the devices.

"Many of these sex offenders are going to re-offend no matter what you kind of requirements you put on them to stay away from children or schools or parks," Stone said. "At least if you have the tracking device then you have a way to monitor them."

Sen. Kathy Klausmeier, a Democrat who represents the 8th District including Perry Hall, Parkville and Overlea, is a co-sponsor on the bill.

Currently, state law passed in 2006 allows a judge to order the devices as part of the sentence.

This is not the first year for the proposal. In fact, Stone sponsored this bill last year.

Stone was at a loss for why the legislature has not passed the bill in past sessions.

"It's not easy to pass (sex offender) bills even though many other states already have them," said Stone, who added that he wished the legislature would be more proactive on criminal justice issues.

"That's why we have so many laws now named after people — because we're being reactive," Stone said.

Other legislation introduced by county legislators includes:

• A bill that would ban the sale of caffeinated alcoholic beverages, such as Four Loko, within the state. The bill is sponsored by Del. Dana Stein, a Democrat who represents the 11th District including Owings Mills, Pikesville and part of Timonium. Co-sponsors include Democratic Dels. Jon Cardin and Dan Morhaim, who also represent the 11th District, and Steve Lafferty, who represents the 42nd District including Towson, Timonium and part of Pikesville.

• A bill sponsored by Del. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam that would authorize the state Board of Nursing to approve licensing exams for electrologists. The bill would also require yearly renewal of those licenses.

• A bill in the House sponsored by Lafferty that would require apartment complexes to offer recycling to its residents. The bill is a cross file of a law introduced in the Senate earlier this year by Sen. Jim Brochin, who also represents the 42nd Disrict.

• Brochin is also sponsoring a bill that would take away the ability of legislators to award scholarships and move the entire program to the Office of Student Finacial Assistance. Senators can award up to $138,000 in scholarships annually and delegates can award the equivalent of four four-year, full-time scholarships in each term. Brochin sponsored a similar bill before and has spoken out against the program during his previous two terms in office.

"I think what's new here is that it's a new Senate and a new Education, Health and Environmental Affairs committee, " Brochin said. "A lot of us from leadership on down are trying to make heads and tails of the new Senate."