Davis Urges Lawmakers to Extend Megan´s Law

Governor Davis is asking Senate and Assembly leaders to return to the Capitol to approve a bill extending Megan’s Law, the 1996 law that lets the public view the state´s registry of about 100,000 sex offenders.

A bill that would have extended Megan´s Law until 2007 died in the state Assembly as lawmakers wrapped up the legislative session early Saturday.

Public access to the records will end New Year´s Day unless lawmakers act. Davis says if lawmakers don´t act, California will be the only state in the nation without public access to the registry.

The governor is asking lawmakers to reconvene, rather than calling a special session, to give them more flexibility on when they return.

Legislative leaders are assuring Davis they will convene in time to extend the law by month´s end, after which the state will lose about $5 million in federal funds.