Credit: Tom Sofield/
LevittownNow.com
A change to Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law, proposed by Langhorne-based Republican State Rep. Frank Farry, was signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf last week.
House Bill 73 will close a loophole in the reporting requirements of individuals who have been deemed sexually violent predators.
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The new law will force centers that provide counseling services to sexually violent predators to notify the district attorney of the county and the chief of police in the municipality where the offenders will be receiving treatment.
Farry told LevittownNow.com earlier this year that the bill came about after a 2013 controversy in Hulmeville Borough, in which a counseling center was found to be operating an office that treated sexually violent predators in an unmarked building across the street from homes with children. Farry said the borough and its police department had no idea the center was there until residents informed them.
“I take the safety of our communities very seriously and I am pleased the governor acted quickly to sign this important piece of legislation into law,” Farry said. “Megan’s Law has done a great deal to better protect the public from sexually violent predators, but there still exists some weaknesses in the law that need to be addressed. My legislation fixes one of those weaknesses.”
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Under the current law, any persons declared a sexually violent predator have to undergo counseling sessions on at least a monthly basis. The persons must also register under the Sexual Offender Registration Act.
“Sexually violent predators must undergo regular counseling as a condition of release, yet many law enforcement officers working near counseling facilities providing this type of treatment are not notified these individuals are entering their community on a regular basis. My legislation improves that communication to better assist law enforcement,” Farry said in a statement.
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The local legislator and volunteer fire chief said he was not aware of any problems involving the sexually violent predators interacting with children in Hulmeville, but he felt local police should have a heads up that offenders are present in a certain area.
