The father of a Florida girl murdered last year is asking Ohio lawmakers to pass tough new laws targeting sex offenders.

Dayton native Mark Lunsford testified today in support of a bill that would require judges to sentence defendants convicted of raping children under 13 to at least 25 years in prison.

Lunsford says it's important to look past the expense of longer prison terms and think about the value of saving even one life.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Steve Austria, would also require a mandatory sentence of 15 years for defendants convicted of gross sexual imposition.

The legislation is one of at least 19 pending bills trying to toughen laws regarding sex offenders in Ohio.