Senate OKs Bill to Track Sex Offenders

The FBI would establish a national registry to track the movement of convicted sex offenders from state to state under legislation approved by the Senate. Without dissent, the Senate approved a bill by Sens. Phil Gramm (R-Texas) and Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) requiring creation of a national registry to track people convicted of sex crimes involving violence or minors. Although 49 states already operate or are establishing their own registries as mandated by the 1994 anti-crime law, there is no central database that allows law enforcement to keep track of sexual offenders once they move to another state, Gramm and Biden said. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House, but has yet to be considered. Under the Senate’s bill, convicted sex offenders would have to register with the FBI if they live in a state that does not have a registration program.