SENATE REVIEW by State Senator Randy Bass

When it comes to protecting our children, I believe we have a responsibility to ensure our public policy will help us create a safer Oklahoma. Governor Henry has now signed two Senate bills into law that will help us do just that.

Senate Bill 1495 is known as the Kyle Williams Boating Safety Education Act. Kyle was a 12 year old boy from Edmond. He and his family were enjoying a weekend at the lake when the jet ski Kyle was riding on with his older sister was struck by one driven by another child. Kyle died from his injuries.

Kyle's parents were convinced if children and teens were required take boating allowed to use a jet ski or other watercraft, then perhaps other families wouldn't have to suffer a tragedy like theirs. They pointed out that Oklahoma was one of only eight states that did not require some kind of boating education for youths, even though 80 percent of fatalities on the water happen when the operator hasn't had any boater education. The resulting legislation will require those between the ages of 12 and 16 to complete a boater safety education course and be supervised by an adult.

A second measure is designed to protect children trying to navigate far different waters— the Internet. It has been estimated that at any moment, at least 50,000 child predators may be online. As these criminals find ways of using technology to find their victims, we need to make sure our laws ary-tfpdated"'to 'ensure faw enforcement has the tools they need to arrest and prosecute these predators.

Senate bill 1479 creates the Safe Net Act. This will make it illegal for an individual to encourage, offer or solicit sexual conduct with a minor through the Internet. Online sex offenders will be charged with a felony and face up to five years in prison for each communication. The legislation also creates an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit within the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

Parents must always be vigilant when it comes to the safety of their children—but as public policy makers, we need to do everything we can to help support them in that effort. That's the purpose of both of these new laws.

As always if you have a q"uestioit ab^f^egM&tive matter, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (405) 521-5567 or by email at bass@oksenate.gov.