Despite being largely overshadowed by issues like smoking bans, clean cars and looming budget deficits, supporters of stricter sentences for sex offenders won a vote Saturday in the House of Delegates on a bill that would deny parole for the most serious sex crimes.

During an unannounced voting session Saturday morning, members of the House Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to repeal parole eligibility for individuals convicted of first- or second-degree rape and first- or second-degree sex offense. The full House gave the bill preliminary approval Saturday afternoon in the middle of more than four hours of voting.

“We’re very happy with [taking out] the parole eligibility,” said House Minority Whip Christopher Shank, R-Washington County, the bill’s lead sponsor. “I think the General Assembly sent a solid message that we care about the safety of our children.”

Shank said the House vote gained momentum after the full Senate gave preliminary approval Friday to an identical bill, and after activists flooded committee members with phone calls and e-mails.

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Vallario said the bill received a vote “in the ordinary course of business,” and said efforts to include the parole repeal in last year’s bill failed mostly because only one person testified. He also said the bill was filed too late during the regular 2006 session to give it a chance for a committee vote.

Under current law, adult offenders convicted of first-degree rape or first-degree sexual offense against a child under age 13 face a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years. Adult offenders convicted of second-degree rape or second-degree sexual offense against a child under 13 face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years. Current law makes offenders eligible for parole after serving half of the minimum sentence.

Both the House and the Senate were expected to take final votes on the bill today.

stracy@baltimoreexaminer.com