Bill would help find sex offenders living at daycares

FOX UNDERCOVER - A top lawmaker says a bill he filed earlier this year would prevent sex offenders from slipping under the radar and living at the same addresses as child care providers.

Massachusetts House Minority leader Brad Jones filed the bill in January that would require the Department of Early Education and Care and the Sex Offender Registry Board to share information.

That hasn't been happening, which is why the state auditor identified 119 Level 2 and 3 sex offenders with the same address as a child care provider.

FOX Undercover also found the problem could be worse because the audit did not look at Level 1 sex offenders. A FOX Undercover investigation found that two-thirds of these supposedly low-risk offenders, whose information can't be released to the public, have been convicted of sex crimes against children.

"Should we be able to find out if Level 1s share the same the same address as a child care provider?" FOX Undercover reporter Mike Beaudet asked Jones.

"We should know that, and if we were doing this address check with any address over at EEC for a child care facility, SORB can tell you," Jones replied.

"On top of that you believe the public should have access to information about all sex offenders?" Beaudet asked.

"We think the public should have greater access, so we would put all Level 2s online and make it easier for the public to find out about Level 1s," Jones replied.

The Department of Early Education and Care was run by Sherri Killins who resigned earlier this month after facing questions about her commute from Connecticut while also working a time-consuming internship.

The state is still paying her as a consultant. Jones wants her off the payroll now, pointing the audit as just one more reason for her to be gone.

Cox Media Group