State is stiffening certain laws

Schools and day care centers are already off limits to registered sex offenders, and rules are getting tighter.

Offenders who commit certain crimes against children will now face a minimum of 25 years in prison. They also have to stay registered as a sex offender with the state for 30 years under the new law; they used to be registered for just 10 years.

It’s also a felony for sex offenders to access social networking sites like Myspace and Facebook. Offenders released from prison will have to be monitored for life by a global positioning satellite.

New laws also increase penalties for misdemeanor child abuse. Stalking someone while under a restraining order is no longer a misdemeanor, but a felony. The same goes for violating a domestic violence protective order.

The state is also cracking down on gang activity, increasing offenses for people involved in street gangs.

The state is expanding the ban on video poker machines. Promoting, operating or conducting illegal gaming now carries a fine up to $25,000 or even jail time

The state is also raising the stakes for vandals. Vandalism resulting in more than $5,000 in damage is now a felony that could come with a maximum sentence of five years in jail.

Another new law in affect requires doctors and hospitals to report suspicious injuries in children to law enforcement.