Law for Children

Rep. David Law has spent his entire professional legal career protecting our most vulnerable; our children.  While in the legislature, Rep. David Law has been a leader for the following House Bills and Task Forces.  As your next Oakland County Prosecutor, Rep. Law will continue to prosecute aggressively against those who commit crimes which harm our children.

Online Child Predators

• Rep. Law is working in the legislature to prohibit access to social networking sites such as Myspace or Facebook for certain child sexual predators.

• Include all valid email addresses and usernames as a part of the reporting requirements under the sex offender registration act.  (Similar to McCain/Schumer legislation)  Require notification to all social networking sites of which an individual participates.  Myspace and the like are supportive of the concept and have indicated their efforts to cross-reference this data, as many are now prohibiting sex offenders on their own.

• Increase the penalties for a violation of the reporting requirements under the sex offender registration act. (24% or approx. 9,000 offenders unaccounted for in Michigan, Detroit Free Press)

• In conjunction with the Prosecutor's office and the Sheriff's office, Representative Law sponsored educational forums to assist parents and children of the dangers of predators on the internet and provide the tools to better protect them.

Sponsored "Jessica's Law"

• Require strict mandatory minimum sentencing for individuals convicted of CSC 1or2 with a victim under the age of 13.

• Require lifetime GPS electronic monitoring upon release of individuals convicted of CSC 1or2 with a victim under the age of 13.  Individuals are responsible for the full cost of the monitoring.

Sex Offender Registry: Retro-Active Application for Child Predators

• Rep. Law introduced legislation to require ALL child predators (CSC 1 or 2 with a victim under the age of 13) to register as sex offenders, regardless of when the offense was committed.  This was a project with Justice for Children out of Birmingham.

Special Committee on Child Protection, Chair (93rd Legislature)

Impetus: The death of the Ricky Holland of Lansing/Jackson, only to be followed soon after by the deaths of Rose Kelly of Flint and Isaac Lethbridge of Detroit

Charge:  Examine the child protection network in the state of Michigan. 

Activity:  Various hearing throughout the state including Lansing, Oakland and Gennessee County

HB 6440 of 06

• Transfer the Office of the Children's Ombudsman to the Legislative Branch from the Executive, to provide legitimacy to the office via true accountability and oversight in the spirit of constitutional oversight of the executive by the legislative branch.  This bill was vetoed by Gov. Granholm.

HB 6682 of 06 

• Require the Department of Human Services to notify the Children's Ombudsman within 10 days in the event of a child death.

Chairman of Special Task Force on Child Protection (Current Session)

• After the unanswered request of Speaker Dillon to re-instate the special committee on child protection, Rep. Law established a task for to continue the work of the special committee.  First hearing included testimony by Justice Corrigan.

• Set up an independent oversight body to look into the deaths of children who were under state care.

• Seeking to establish a single repository of information on those who die while under state care.

• Bring the Judiciary Committee into the reviewing process.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

• After the carbon monoxide scares at both Dondero and Kensington Academy in 2005 Rep. Law spearheaded a campaign to raise awareness and address this issue in the community.  He worked with local companies (e.g. Meijer) to have carbon monoxide detectors donated to area schools.  He introduced legislation to require CO detectors in all public school buildings.

Michael Jackson Law

• Allow evidence that the defendant committed a similar crime previously against another minor to be admissible as character evidence in cases where defendant is charged with a sex crime against a minor

Teen Cell Phone Ban While Driving

• In conjunction with the National Transportation Safety Board, Rep. Law introduced legislation to include a ban on using an interactive wireless device while driving as a part of the graduated licensing program.

Youth Tobacco Prevention Act

• Crack down on youth tobacco consumption by prohibiting the attempt to purchase tobacco products or use of a fake id, as is the case with alcohol.  The penalty is the same as possession.  It also, provides law enforcement the ability to utilize minors in sting operations, as is the case with alcohol.

Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act

• As a Commissioner with the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, Rep. Law worked with the organization to introduce legislation to give the courts and law enforcement the tools to protect children in contentious custody disputes.