Medford, Ore. – A new piece of legislation aimed at improving school safety was introduced to the Oregon House Committee on Judiciary on Monday. House Bill 3839, which seeks to expand access to sex offender information for school districts, could significantly impact how schools screen individuals with a history of sexual offenses.
The bill, introduced by Central Oregon State Representative Emerson Levy and Bend-La Pine Superintendent Steve Cook, is a direct response to a troubling incident in which a convicted child sex offender entered a middle school in Levy’s district. The event raised alarms about the limitations of the current system, which only flags level 3 sex offenders – the most severe category – leaving out approximately 95% of offenders.
Currently, only level 3 offenders, who make up just 5% of all registered sex offenders in Oregon, are flagged in the state’s sex offender registry. This gap in the system, according to Cook, has created a critical flaw in schools’ ability to identify potential threats. “Children deserve better protection,” Cook said during the introduction of the bill. “The system we have now isn’t enough to keep them safe.”
House Bill 3839 proposes that level 1 and level 2 sex offender information, which represents a larger portion of offenders, be made accessible to school districts. This would give schools a more comprehensive understanding of the individuals in their community who may pose a risk to students.
Levy echoed Cook’s concerns, emphasizing the importance of providing schools with the tools they need to ensure student safety. “We need to be doing everything we can to keep our children safe,” Levy said. “This bill is about giving schools the necessary resources to prevent situations like this from happening in the future.”
While the bill represents a significant step toward bolstering school safety, it may face hurdles in the legislative process. Opponents may argue about privacy concerns and the balance between public safety and individual rights. However, supporters of the bill argue that ensuring the safety of children in schools should be a top priority.
As the bill moves through the committee process, its future remains uncertain. If passed, House Bill 3839 could serve as a model for other states looking to enhance their own school safety protocols. For now, the focus is on making sure that schools are better equipped to protect their students from potential threats that may otherwise go undetected.