By TOM CHORNEAU
Associated Press Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif.- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed sweeping penalties for sex offenders Tuesday, including a requirement that paroled molesters wear satellite tracking devices for life.
The governor wants to prohibit registered sex offenders from living near parks and schools. He also seeks to increase penalties for possession of child pornography, date rapists and using the Internet to lure minors for sex acts.
“I’m sponsoring this legislation to give California the strictest laws and toughest penalties for the worst crimes,” the governor said at a news conference.
Lawmakers in Florida recently adopted a similar lifetime monitoring requirement for sex offenders.
Schwarzenegger’s proposal faces an uncertain fate in the near term. The Legislature’s annual session ends early next month, giving lawmakers little time to consider such a hefty bill, said Assemblyman Mark Leno, who chairs the public safety committee.
The Democrat also said placing all registered sex offenders under satellite surveillance for life would be enormously expensive. Leno estimated the governor’s proposal could cost as much as $500 million a year, a figure he said included the satellite surveillance, additional jail time for some offenders and longer parole terms.
Schwarzenegger said he did not know the potential cost of imposing lifelong monitoring of sex offenders but said it would be worth the expense.