Senate Review by Senator Randy Brogdon

Senate Review
by Senator Randy Brogdon

Providing quality public safety to Oklahomans continues to be a high priority for Senate Republicans. Oklahoma has addressed the issue of public safety in the past by enacting the state’s sex offender registry in 1989. The purpose was simple—to better protect our children, families and communities from those criminals who prey on our most vulnerable members of society.

More recently, the State Legislature created the violent offender registry to make it easier to find individuals in our communities who have been convicted of violent crimes in order to better protect our loved ones.

The full Senate unanimously approved legislation this past week that would require convicted child abusers to be listed on the state’s violent crime registry. This legislation, Senate Bill 1601, would also make it illegal for convicted abusers to work with children.

Under Senate Bill 1601, any person convicted of the physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect of a child would be required to register with the state as a violent offender. Businesses and individuals throughout the state would then have access to both the violent offender and the sex offender registry. A convicted child abuser who failed to register could be charged with a felony and sent to prison for up to five years, as well as facing a fine of up to $5,000.


As a parent, I would not want someone who has been convicted of molesting a child to be able to work anywhere near other children. Persons who have been convicted of beating, starving, or neglecting a child should not be allowed to work around children as well. With this new legislation, schools, preschools, and even parents looking for baby-sitters can screen out individuals who have such a past.

My wife and I have been blessed with two sons, and while they were growing up, we did everything in our power to teach them how to be responsible, successful individuals, and to protect them from those who would hurt or exploit them. I believe teaching these virtues is primarily a parent’s responsibility, but as a Legislature we can create public policy that gives parents and others who care for children better tools to use in their effort to protect our most vulnerable citizens.

It is an honor to serve you in the in the State Senate. I can be reached by writing to Senator Randy Brogdon, Room 416, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73105, or by calling (405) 521-5566, or email at brogdon@oksenate.gov.

Respectfully,

Randy Brogdon

Senate District #34