June 9 PRNewswirE
The Sex Offenders Long-Term Care Facility Bill, the first of its kind in the nation and the most concrete legislation to protect venerable long-term care residents written in the past thirty years, will be signed into law by Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry on Tuesday, June 10 at 11 am CDT in the Oklahoma State Capitol's Blue Room .
Wes Bledsoe, the nation's leading advocate on Predators in America's Nursing Homes states, "Enactment of this bill will directly reduce murders, rapes, sexual and physical assaults against vulnerable long-term care residents, as well it serves as a model for the federal government and state legislatures across America."
The bill (House Bill 2704) ultimately establishes a long-term care facility for Level III (High Risk) and Level II (Moderate Risk) Registered Sex Offenders. The bill was authored by Representative Kris Steele, sponsored by Senator Tom Adelson, and co-sponsored by almost 10% of the Oklahoma State House and Senate membership.
Both chambers of the legislature passed the Sex Offenders Long-Term Care Facility Bill on Thursday, May 22 by unanimous votes.
The bill was inspired and championed by Bledsoe's four-year crusade which uncovered almost sixty murders, rapes, sexual and physical assaults committed by violent and sexual offenders while living as residents in long-term care facilities. Victims of these criminal acts include female and male residents, staff and even one 3 year-old visitor.
Bledsoe's research has also debunked numerous fairy tales used as justifications by elected and appointed officials to warehouse violent and sexual predators in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Erroneous justifications include:
- The offenders are all old
- Old offenders don't pose a threat
- Incapacitated or wheelchair bound offenders are safe
- Child molesters are safe around old people
- You only need to worry about sex offenders
- Nursing homes are capable to handle these offenders
- Prior offenses were minor or they happened long ago
- Offenders have paid their debt to society
- It's not rape, it's consensual sex
Bledsoe is currently working with Congressional leaders to call for and conduct a Congressional Hearing to address this "disgraceful issue."
CONTACTS: Lisa Liebl 405.802.2904
Wes Bledsoe 405.308.3858 Wes@APerfectCause.org
SOURCE: BizJournals---------------------------------------------------
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