Gov. Charlie Crist recently signed a piece legislation that strengthens public safety laws for Florida’s children.

Crist signed House Bill 115, sponsored by State Rep. Martin David Kiar (D-Parkland), relating to sexual predators and offenders. The bill had unanimously passed the Florida Senate and the Florida House during the 2009 legislative session.

This bill closed a loophole in the registration process. Prior to the bill being signed, sexual offenders and predators did not have to provide Florida Department of Law Enforcement with a home or cellular telephone number as part of the registration process. This made it difficult for law enforcement to keep track of these individuals. The bill requires sexual offenders and predators to provide their phone numbers to law enforcement. The telephone numbers will not be made public but will be used as a tool for law enforcement to better monitor the registrants’ activities.

The bill also encourages public libraries to adopt an Internet Safety program to promote prudent internet use and broaden awareness of online predators. Prior to this bill, if a person in Florida sent pornography to a child in another state they could not be prosecuted. It will now be a third degree felony. As per the new law, an adult who solicits unlawful sexual activity with a minor over the internet, telephone or other means and goes to meet the minor for the purpose of engaging in unlawful sexual activity, and is convicted, has to register as a sexual offender or predator.

Keeping children safe and helping them become successful adults is the most important thing one can do in the Legislature, Kiar said. Whether it’s protecting them from assault or providing them with an excellent education, investing in their future is critical, he added.