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Pataki Wants Sex Offender Registration For Life
by Chloe Albanesius
New York Gov. George Pataki on Monday called on lawmakers to pass legislation that would require sex offenders to remain registered in the state's offender database for life.
"Currently, only the most serious offenders ... are required to remain on the state's sex offender registry for life," the Republican governor said in a statement. "Sex offenses are serious crimes and we owe it to New York's families to provide them with as much public information as possible about sex offenders who may be living in their communities."
Pataki slammed the state assembly's failure to pass legislation that would require sex offender registration to be posted online. "I have previously offered comprehensive proposals to bolster Megan's Law, including a provision to require all sex offenders to be listed on the Internet through our state's criminal justice Web site," he said. "While the Senate has overwhelmingly supported these proposals, the assembly's leadership 'so what' attitude toward sex offenders has prevented these critical measures from becoming law."
In other news, Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire this week signed legislation, S.H.B. 1337, that would require sealed electronic records of sex offenders to be marked as sealed. She also signed a measure, H.B. 1338, that would expand the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Web site to include all registered kidnapping offenders.
Meanwhile, a California Senate panel on Tuesday amended legislation, S.B. 619 that would use global positioning technology to monitor prisoners who have been released on parole.
Oklahoma Legislature Passes Meth Database Bill
The Oklahoma legislature on Monday approved a bill, H.B. 1507, that would require the creation of an online database of those who purchase a common cold medicine used in the creation of methamphetamine. Pharmacies would then cross-check the information in the database to ensure that meth abusers are not hitting various pharmacies in an attempt to purchase more than the allowed amount.
Under a law enacted last year, medicine containing the key meth ingredient pseudoephedrine must be kept behind pharmacy counters, and those who wish to purchase the item must show identification. The law also restricts the amount that can be purchased.
"By creating an electronic network of pharmacies, we will make it exceedingly difficult for meth manufacturers to skirt the law," Gov. Brad Henry said in a statement.
The Democratic governor said he intends to sign the measure into law.
In other news, AP reports that a state Senate committee in California approved a bill that would require a serial number on every handgun bullet sold in the state. Those buying bullets would pay a half-cent tax to help fund a database that would be maintained by the state's Justice Department. If approved, it would go into effect by July 2007.
Minnesota Governor Calls For Review Of State Web Sites
In the wake of a report criticizing Minnesota's Internet-based motor vehicles services, Gov. Tim Pawlenty has requested that the state's commissioner of administration review all executive branch Web sites for security concerns.
The Web-based motor vehicle registration renewal system is at "an unacceptable risk of tampering, disruption, and misuse," according to a report from the state's legislative auditor. "Until significant security enhancements are made, the system should not be used to conduct business," the report concluded.
"It is important to take prudent steps to ensure the security of the public's resources," the Republican governor said in a statement. The report should be a "significant call to action."
Commissioner Dana Badgerow pledged to work "aggressively to ensure and maintain the safety of our systems."
New Mexico, Utah Select New CIOs
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson last week announced that Roy Soto would become the state's next chief information officer. Soto has served as the deputy secretary and CIO of the state's Labor Department since 2003, and will now oversee information technology efforts for all state government agencies.
Soto "understands our need to balance costs with our ability to provide consistent, high-quality services," Richardson, a Democrat, said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Utah Gov. Jon Hunstman last week selected Stephen Fletcher to serve as the state's CIO. Fletcher previously served as the U.S. Education Department's CIO and chief technology officer.
In other news, legislation signed this week by Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, H.F. 776, would, among other things, create the office of state CIO.
Texas, Indiana Address Telecom Issues
A Texas House panel on Tuesday approved legislation that would replace local right-of-way franchise agreements with a statewide standard, drawing criticism from the Texas Cable & Telecommunications Association (TCTA).
Under H.B. 3179, the state would develop standards for how a telecom company must provide service to residents. Local communities have traditionally assumed that role to ensure companies do not cater only to high-income neighborhoods, and they have earned a sizable amount of revenue from franchise fees. Detractors say moving to such a system would result in lost revenue for local communities and could allow companies to lobby state officials for a policy that is in their best interest.
"This bill is full of unintended-and, in some cases, intended-consequences that add up to extremely bad public policy," Tom Kinney, chairman of TCTA and president of Time Warner Cable Austin, said in a statement.
In other news, an effort to deregulate phone service in Indiana is likely to fail, the Indianapolis Star reports. Under S.B. 381, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission would be stripped of its power to regulate phone prices by 2010 in areas where 50 percent of consumers have access to high-speed Internet.
Sen. David Ford, a Republican, is the lone negotiator who has yet to agree to a compromise on the bill. He is concerned that residents in rural areas with few phone options will not be adequately protected from companies that want to increase their prices, he said.
Supporters say the bill, which is backed by dominant telecom provider SBC, will encourage broadband deployment. Some House Republicans, however, oppose the creation of a statewide broadband network because they say private companies should handle the deployment.
While Ford said there is "no way" to reach a compromise on the issue in a timely manner, there is the possibility of placing watered down deregulation and broadband measures in summer legislative study committees. An SBC spokesman said the company is still holding out hope the legislature will move the measure.
Georgia, North Carolina Open Tech Centers
In an attempt to leverage the expertise of Georgia's private sector and its university system, the state will create an information technology innovation center (ITIC) on the campus of Columbus State University, Gov. Sonny Perdue announced last week.
"Many Georgia companies handle massive amounts of information on a daily basis" and the ITIC will help businesses and the university "develop new technologies and processes for meeting the challenges faced by Georgia's business community," the Republican governor said in a statement.
ITIC's first project will be a joint effort between Columbus and the Georgia Institute of Technology to research how best to migrate information from older databases to new databases in an effort to make the data more user friendly. A report is expected within eight months and will be available to ITIC member companies.
One of the first start-up companies to set up shop in the structure will be TimeTraxx, a company that develops software to simplify processes in the construction claims industry.
Meanwhile, North Carolina Gov. Mark Easley, a Democrat, announced that the state will create its first center for 21st century skills in Raleigh. The center will focus on helping students become more tech savvy as they prepare for the future.
In other news, Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich this week signed a bill, S.B. 217, that would extend the state's $6 million research and development tax credit until 2012.
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