By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

A BIPARTISAN bill introduced yesterday by Sens. Frank Ishizaki, R-Yona, and Sen. Judi Won Pat, D-Malojloj, seeks to expand the availability of information about sex offenders by requiring all those convicted of criminal sexual conduct or of a crime against a victim who is a minor, to be included in the Sex Offender Register.
Guam’s current statute requires only those who have been convicted of such offenses after Jan. 1, 1993.
Ishizaki and Won Pat introduced Bill 71 to update Guam’s local law with federal statutes relating to sex offenders and the protection of the community from such heinous acts.
Bill 71 seeks to ensure that the community “is fully aware of all those who has or can have a potential for harm due to their past offenses.”
“Over the recent months, our island has seen a number of attempted kidnappings, crimes against our children, and other terrible offense. It is important to keep our community safe and the first necessary step is to take precautions by knowing who has and has had the potential to commit such harm,” Ishizaki said.