Jessica’s Law Set For Committee Hearing

[Press Release from State Rep. Debbie Riddle (R-Houston)]

AUSTIN - The House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence announced late Wednesday night it would consider HB 8, also known as Jessica’s Law, in a public hearing on Tuesday.

The bill’s author, Representative Debbie Riddle (R- District 150), said the legislation will make Texas a leader in the fight against sex offenders.

“In Texas, we have always set the mark for other states when it comes to the way we deal with our most evil and violent criminals,” Riddle said.  “There is nothing more evil than a person who would sexually assault a child, and there is no higher priority for this legislature than making sure our children are safe from these predators.”

Jessica Lunsford was only 9 years old in February of 2005 when she was abducted from her bedroom in Florida by convicted sex offender, John Couey.  He took her to his house and sexually assaulted her for three days before burying her alive in his backyard.

The Florida legislature was the first to pass “Jessica’s Law” that same year, and since then the title has been shared by dozens of pieces of legislation in more than 20 states that aim to increase penalties for sex offenders.

Riddle said HB 8 would deny parole to those convicted of sexually assaulting victims younger than 14 years old on a first offense, and would make repeat offenders eligible for the death penalty on a second offense.  The bill also lengthens by ten years the statute of limitations for sexual assault of a child, and mandates GPS monitoring of civilly committed offenders.

The committee will meet at 2:00 p.m. in room E2.016.