Proposal Would Require Disclosure of Names of Nursing Home Residents With Histories of Sex Offenses
Assembly member Juan Vargas (D-Chula Vista) introduced legislation (AB 217) that would require the names of all nursing home residents with histories as sex offenders to be disclosed to nursing home staff and residents, the Los Angeles Daily News reports.
Vargas' announcement follows the release of a study by nursing home watchdog group A Perfect Cause, which found that 66 sex offenders live in 57 nursing homes in California.
California state officials and a nursing home organization said that no sexual assaults committed by sex offenders living in California nursing homes or board-and-care facilities have been reported. Officials said they currently identify sex offenders to nursing home administrators, although there is no requirement for that information to be passed on to nursing home staff, residents or families of residents.
Vargas said he expects the Legislature to approve the bill. Aides to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) could not be reached for comment, according to the Daily News.
In addition, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) has asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate the issue. The report is expected to be completed in the next several months, according to the Daily News (Geissinger, Los Angeles Daily News, 2/6).
KPBS' "KPBS News" on Monday reported on the study. The segment includes comments from Wes Bledsoe, president of A Perfect Cause (Goldberg, "KPBS News," KPBS, 2/7). The complete transcript is available online. The complete segment is available online in RealPlayer.
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