CHILD MOLEST LIMITS URGED INITIATIVE SEEKS OFFENDER TRACKING.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Husband-and-wife state legislators George and Sharon Runner stood outside a school Wednesday to campaign for an initiative that would stiffen punishment for convicted sex offenders.

Nine sex offenders convicted of lewd acts with children are registered within a quarter-mile of Yucca School on 2nd Street East, the Runners said.

``Children walk to and from school every day. This should be a safe area for children,'' said state Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster. ``Sex offenders convicted of a lewd act can live next door to the school after being released.''

The measure - called Jessica's Law after a package of similar laws being pursued around the nation following a case in Florida - would require all paroled and newly registered sex offenders to wear an electronic tracking device for life.

The measure would also stiffen punishments for sex offenders, increase parole periods and toughen punishments for anyone convicted of using ``date rape drugs'' or the Internet to lure children into sex crimes or pornography. It also would require them to live no closer than 2,000 feet from schools and parks.

Under the measure, the sentence for committing a lewd act on a child would be 15 years to life, and sentences for each offense would run consecutively, not concurrently. Now, persons convicted of child molestation can receive sentences as short as five years, George Runner said.

The Runners are the sponsors of the initiative and kicked off a signature drive last week with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to place the measure on next year's ballot.

The initiative needs 373,816 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Lancaster businessman Frank Visco presented the Runners with a $50,000 contribution and pledged another $50,000 during the campaign.

``I'm pleased to be able to help launch this campaign. It also saddens me that the people of California have to make difficult decisions for the Legislature. They don't have time to act on a law that protects our children,'' Visco said.

The Runners introduced legislative versions of Jessica's Law in August, but no action was taken on them by the Legislature, George Runner said.

So far, the campaign has pledges totaling $1 million, including $450,000 that has already been collected. About $1.5 million is needed.

A campaign fundraiser will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Lancaster Museum and Art Gallery.

``It will be an opportunity for families to get involved,'' said Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster. ``Families can bring in petitions and contributions of any size to donate to Jessica's Law.''

The monitoring devices will use Global Positioning Satellite technology. Having such devices strapped to convicted sex offenders will ``change their behavior'' and result in fewer victims, George Runner said.

In the Antelope Valley, there are 450 sex offenders who are registered, 28 of whom authorities currently can't locate. In Los Angeles County, authorities can't locate 5,600 of the 16,200 sex offenders, George Runner said.

``We don't know where they are or they could be right across the street here. They could be anywhere,'' George Runner said. ``Having them attached to GPS will help with that problem.''

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com