HARRISBURG, June 8 – The House of Representatives today unanimously passed legislation authored by state Rep. Rick Taylor, D-Montgomery, that would require convicted sex offenders who are homeless to register with state police under Megan's Law

The legislation (H.B. 1926) would also require Megan's Law registrants that cease to have a residence to report in person to the Pennsylvania state Police on a weekly basis until they again establish a residence.

Taylor said the Superior Court of Pennsylvania has twice ruled that the penalty provisions in Megan's Law for failing to register cannot be applied to a person who is homeless. Consequently, a ruling in 2009, Commonwealth v. Wilgus, resulted in the bill gaining momentum in the legislature.

"While the General Assembly has successfully strengthened Pennsylvania's Megan's law since it first was enacted in 1996, our work is not done," Taylor said. "Court rulings often reveal discrepancies in laws we have on the books and if sex offenders are able to evade the law because they are between apartments, we need to fix it.

"In terms of public safety and trust, one sex offender unaccounted for is one too many in our communities," he said. "My bill would require offenders who are displaced from a current residence, or without one, to register -- no exceptions."

Taylor consulted with law enforcement when drafting the bill, which mirrors similar statutes in Washington and Minnesota.

If enacted, the bill would be the second proposal signed into law that Taylor has authored to strengthen Megan's Law. In 2008, language he drafted was included in legislation that closed a loophole in the Pennsylvania Crimes Code that allowed some online predators to avoid the Megan's Law requirement.

House Bill 1926 now goes to the Senate for consideration.