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WEBVTT NICHOLE: ONE OF THE AUTHORS OFTHIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT TELLS METHAT THIS IS SOMETHING LAWMAKERSHAVE BEEN TRYING TO PASS FORYEARS.>> THIS IS A REAL VICTORY FORCHILDREN.NICHOLE: STATE REPRESENTATIVESHAUNNA O'CONNELL HELPED AUTHORA BUDGET AMENDMENT, WHICH WASJUST PASSED BY THE HOUSE.IT ESSENTIALLY GRANTS ACCESS TOLEVEL 1 SEX OFFENDER INFORMATIONTO CHILDCARE FACILITIESSOMETHING THEY CURRENTLY DO NOTHAVE ACCESS TO.>> THEREFORE IF SOMEONE'SAPPLYING FOR A JOB AT YOURDAYCARE CENTER, YOU CAN RUNTHEIR NAME THROUGH THE SEXOFFENDER REGISTRY BOARD ORTHROUGH THE LOCAL POLICE STATIONAND FIND OUT THAT INFORMATION.NICHOLE: O'CONNELL SAYS THISMATTERS BECAUSE LEVEL 1OFFENDERS HAVE OFTEN COMMITTEDCRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN.>> PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT LEVEL1 SEX OFFENDERS HAVE COMMITTEEALMOST EVERY CRIME THAT LEVEL 2AND THREE SEX OFFENDERS HAVE.THEY ARE JUST CATEGORIZEDDIFFERENTLY.NICHOLE: CASE IN POINT JOHNBURBINE.AT ONE TIME CLASSIFIED AS LEVEL1, HE WAS LATER ACCUSED OFMOLESTING 13 CHILDREN THROUGHHIS WIFE'S UNLICENSED DAYCAREBUSINESS IN WAKEFIELD.HE DIED AWAITING TRIAL IN 2014.AS FOR WHETHER OR NOT THISAMENDMENT VIOLATES THE RIGHTS OFLEVEL ONE OFFENDERS O'CONNELL, SAYS ACCESS WOULD NOT INCLUDEA LIST OF ALL LEVEL 1 OFFENDERS.>> IS NOT DISSEMINATION OF EVERYSINGLE LEVEL 1 SEX OFFENDER, YOUNEED TO HAVE A NAME OR SOMEIDENTIFYING INFORMATION AND ASKFOR A SPECIFIC PERSON'S

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Legislation making its way through the Massachusetts State House would let child care providers inquire about Level 1 sex offenders in their area. They are often categorized as least at risk to reoffend, but their crimes often involve children. State Representative Shaunna O'Connell, a Republican from Taunton, helped author the budget amendment that was just passed by the House. The measure would essentially grant access to level 1 sex offender information to childcare facilities, something they currently do not have access to. "If someone's applying for a job at your daycare center, you can run their name through the sex offender registry board or through the local police station and find out that information," O'Connell said. O'Connell said the information matters because level 1 offenders have often committed crimes against children. "People should know that level 1 sex offenders have committed almost every crime that level 2 and 3 have, they're just categorized differently," O'Connell said. John Burbine was at one time classified as a level 1 offender. He was later accused of molesting 13 children through his wife's unlicensed daycare business in Wakefield. He died awaiting trial in 2014. O'Connell said access would not include a list of all level 1 offenders. "It's not dissemination of every single level 1 sex offender, you need to have a name or some identifying information and ask for a specific person's information." According to 5 Investigates Mike Beaudet, there are approximately 2,700 people classified as level 1 sex offenders in Massachusetts. The most recent available data shows more than 1,700 of them, or 65 percent, were convicted of sex crimes against children. Those crimes include things like child rape, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and possession of child pornography.