The so-called Facebook bill, which would ban sex offenders convicted of crimes involving juveniles from using social networking sites, advanced through the state Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday.
House Bill 620 backed by state Rep. Ledricka Thierry, is the Opelousas Democrat’s second attempt to pass legislation. The legislation was approved April 17 on a 97-1 vote by the Louisiana House of Representatives.
HB620 was approved without objection and without any changes by the Senate committee. It now goes to the full Senate for a vote.
U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson, of Baton Rouge, ruled that a similar proposal passed last year was unconstitutionally broad and a “near-total ban on Internet access.”
Thierry’s revamped bill, which is part of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s legislative package, includes language that bans sex offenders from intentionally using websites like Facebook whose primary purpose is socializing
This bill, unlike Thierry’s previous bill, permits sex offenders to use common internet sites like Google and Yahoo.
“This is targeted toward people who have the intent to lure our children,” Thierry said.
