SPRINGFIELD - Illinois sex offenders working as carnies may soon have to quit their jobs.

The House Thursday voted 110-0 to approve a plan that would prohibit sex offenders from working any jobs at county fairs where children would be present. It now goes to the Senate.

State Rep. David Reis said negotiations on the measure resulted in targeting workers at county fairs, rather than affecting ride operators and midway game managers at other similar events.

The Willow Hill Republican said the proposal could help put parents' minds at ease while their children peruse busy fairs.

"There's a lot of chaos, a lot of lights, a lot of noise," he said.

The legislation is House Bill 156

Catching online predators

With more sexual predators turning to the Internet, lawmakers moved Thursday to force all convicted sex offenders to reveal their e-mail addresses, Internet screen names and the like.

The measure was approved by the House by a 108-0 vote and now moves to the Senate. If approved there, residents could check Illinois' sex offender registry and see the Internet information.

State Rep. Sandy Cole, a Grayslake Republican, says that could allow parents to block those addresses from their children's computers.

"It's kind of like being able to block the Playboy channel," she said.

The legislation is House Bill 260.

Freedom of the college press

College newspaper staffs could soon get an assurance that administrators would be forbidden to censor or edit their product before it's published.

State senators Thursday voted 57-0 to make college newspapers "public forums of expression." It now moves to the House.

The measure would also protect newspaper advisers - often college faculty - from being fired over controversial content.

Sponsored by state Sen. Susan Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat, the legislation is Senate Bill 729.