( CNN ) -- A new Louisiana law requires sex offenders and child predators to state their criminal status on their Facebook or other social networking page , with the law 's author saying the bill is the first of its kind in the nation . State Rep. Jeff Thompson , a Republican from Bossier City , Louisiana , says his new law , effective August 1 , will stand up to constitutional challenge because it expands sex offender registration requirements , common in many states , to include a disclosure on the convicted criminal 's social networking sites as well . Thompson , an attorney and a father of a 13-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son , said he hopes other states will follow Louisiana . Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace have been removing sex offenders from their web pages for years , but Thompson said the law is designed to cover any possible lapses by social networking sites . `` I do n't want to leave in the hands of social network or Facebook administrators , 'Gee , I hope someone is telling the truth , ' '' Thompson said Tuesday . `` This is another tool for prosecutors . '' The new law , signed by Gov . Bobby Jindal earlier this month , builds upon existing sex offender registration laws , in which the offender must notify immediate neighbors and a school district of his or her residency near them , Thompson said . The law states that sex offenders and child predators `` shall include in his profile for the networking website an indication that he is a sex offender or child predator and shall include notice of the crime for which he was convicted , the jurisdiction of conviction , a description of his physical characteristics ... and his residential address . '' I do n't own my child 's body . Several states now require sex offenders and child predators to register with authorities their e-mail accounts , Internet addresses or profile names to social network and other web sites , according to the National Conference of State Legislatures . A few states such as Illinois and Texas even outright prohibit sex offenders , as a condition of parole , from accessing social networking websites , the group said . The Louisiana law is the latest addition to statutes requiring public notice and registrations by sex offenders , Thompson said . `` It provides the same notice to persons in whose home you are injecting yourself via the Internet , '' Thompson said . `` I challenge you today to walk down the street to see how many people and children are checking Pinterest , Instagram and other social networking sites . If you look at how common it is , that 's 24 hour a day , seven days a week for somebody to interact with your children and your grandchildren . '' At least according to Facebook 's policies , the law would have no real impact . The site 's Statement of Rights and Responsibilities already bars sex offenders from using it . `` You will not use Facebook if you are a convicted sex offender , '' the policy reads , in a section that also prohibits children under 13 and multiple accounts on the site . In the past , Facebook has worked with various states on legislation to help law enforcement find , prosecute and convict sexual predators attempting to use the site . Violators of the new law could face imprisonment with hard labor for a term between two and 10 years without parole and a fine up to $ 1,000 . A second conviction carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment with hard labor for a term between five and 20 years without parole and a fine up to $ 3,000 . Thompson consulted prosecutors and the attorney general in Louisiana when drafting the law because last year , a federal court struck down a Louisiana law that outright banned sex offenders and child predators from using Internet . The court found the law too broad , Thompson said . Last year , the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana sought to block the enforcement of that state law that tried to limit sex offenders ' use of the Internet , arguing that it infringes on constitutional rights . The law had targeted registered sex offenders convicted in crimes involving children and prohibited the `` using or accessing of social networking websites , chat rooms and peer-to-peer networks , '' according to the legislation that was signed into law in June 2011 . Today , sex abuse victims are less alone . Louisiana lawmakers , however , have not given up on that stricter law . In fact , a revised version was passed by the Louisiana legislature and signed into law in May , but Thompson is skeptical that latest version can survive a court challenge . The revised , new ban prohibits certain registered sex offenders from intentionally using a social networking website , Gov . Jindal said in a statement . Said Thompson about that new law : `` It may very well fall under scrutiny and attack . That 's one of the reasons that I created the bill I did . I 'm not trying to create a ban . I 'm just trying to create an expansion of the existing notice requirements . '' Force your child to hug ? Readers strong reactions .
New law says sex offenders , child predators can reveal convictions on sites . The law expands upon existing sex offender protection ##s . The new law , effective August 1 , is the first of its kind in nation , legislator says . Last year a Louisiana law that banned sex offenders from the state was struck down .