Panel OKs bill to toughen laws against online child predators

This from the Herald-Leader:

McCracken County Sheriff Jon Hayden ... joined Attorney General Jack Conway, prosecutors and other law enforcement officers Wednesday in promoting a bill to strengthen the fight against online predators. The measure later cleared its first hurdle by winning approval from the House Judiciary Committee.

...The bill would allow law enforcement to use specially trained decoys for online stings. It would make it a crime to solicit anyone who the person believes is a minor.

Another provision would prohibit registered sex offenders from using social-networking Web sites such as MySpace and Facebook. The bill also would require sex offenders to notify the sex offender registry whenever they change their e-mail addresses.

The bill also amends the state's stalking statute to include cyberstalking.

It also would allow police to seize personal property such as a computer or car that was used in committing online sexual offenses against children...