ATLANTA (December 30, 2008) – State Senator John Douglas (R-Social Circle) has pre-filed Senate Bill 14 to help protect school children from sexual predators. The bill simply amends current state law by adding that no one on the National Sex Offender Registry or the state sexual offender registry can be elected to serve on a local board of education.
During the 2008 legislative session, Sen. Douglas strongly objected to the candidacy of Horace Don Gresham to the Newton County Board of Education, District 2. In 1988, Gresham was convicted of sodomy in DeKalb County involving a boy under the age of 14. In 1999, he was charged with public indecency in Newton County. In the most recent case, Gresham admitted his guilt and voluntarily completed a pretrial diversion program in lieu of prosecution.
“Earlier this year I vowed that the first bill I would introduce in the 2009 session would be to prevent a situation like this from ever happening again. I am delivering on that promise,” said Sen. Douglas. “The idea that a pedophile can be a member of a local school board and have unrestricted access to schools cannot be tolerated. We must do everything in our power to protect the children of our state and this bill will help us achieve that goal.”
As a member of the Senate Education and Youth and Public Safety and Homeland Security committees, Sen. Douglas has long been an advocate for issues concerning the protection of children from sexual predators. In 2008, he supported legislation which gives judges additional disciplinary actions against online sexual predators by allowing law enforcement to monitor a registered sex offenders’ online activity. He was also a sponsor of Senate Bill 249 which would have required sexual offenders to register with the sheriff of any county where they reside, are employed and attend institutions of higher learning.
Sen. Douglas will introduce the bill once the Georgia General Assembly convenes January 12 for the 2009 legislative session.
Sen. John Douglas serves as Chairman of the Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee. He represents the 17th Senate District which includes Newton County and portions of Henry, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton counties. He may be reached by phone at 404.656.0503 or by e-mail a john.douglas@senate.ga.gov
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
December 30, 2008
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
Ravae Graham, Communications Specialist
ravae.graham@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028