Senate considers name-changing bill

By Marc Kovac | April 21, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBUS

People convicted of sex crimes or identity theft would be barred from changing their legal names, under legislation being considered in the Ohio Senate.

Sen. Mike Skindell, a Democrat from the Cleveland area, offered sponsor testimony last week on Senate Bill 76 before the Senate’s criminal justice committee.

“This legislation is an effort to better track the whereabouts of sexual predators and individuals convicted of identity theft and provide further protection to our citizens,” Skindell said.

“A legal name-change for such individuals opens up the opportunity for these offenders to conceal their identity and perpetuate future offenses.”

Under existing law, individuals wanting to change their names must file applications in the probate courts where they live and explain the reason for the change.

Skindell’s bill would require individuals wanting to change their names to note during the application process whether they have been convicted of identity theft or sexually oriented crimes that carry registration requirements.

Judges would be prohibited from granting name changes for applicants who have.

Skindell has offered comparable legislation during the past three general assemblies, when he was a member of the Ohio House.

Twice, the bills passed the House but stalled in the Republican-controlled Ohio Senate.

“We need to take all reasonable steps to protect our communities from sexual predators,” Skindell said.