AUSTIN -- Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst today announced the filing of Jessica's Law.
Soon, Lt. Governor Dewhurst will ask the 80th Legislature to pass the toughest Jessica's Law in America as part of his Texas Children First plan.
"We know that by protecting our children, we protect our future. Now it's time for Texans to show we're serious about getting child predators off the streets, out of our neighborhoods and off the internet," said Dewhurst.
Lt. Governor Dewhurst also thanked Senator Bob Deuell, M.D. (R-Greenville) for sponsoring Jessica's Law in Senate Bill 5.
"As a family physician, I have seen in my practice how these cases can affect the well-being of children and the impact it has on families and society. As I've said before, I'm simply tired of it. I'm tired of it as a Senator, as a doctor and as a father," said Deuell.
Lt. Governor Dewhurst's Jessica's Law plan would require mandatory 25 years to life sentences for a first-time violent sexual offense against a child under age 14, require lifetime GPS monitoring for child sex offenders, allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty for a second sexually violent offense against a child under age 14, and double statute of limitations on sexual crimes against children from 10 to 20 years
"By strengthening our laws against child predators we are sending a clear message to those who would hurt our children, not in Texas. And to those who don't get the message, justice will be severe," said Dewhurst.
Jessica's Law is named for nine year old Jessica Lunsford.
In March 2005, Jessica was abducted from her Florida home, raped and murdered.
