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RALEIGH (AP) - The House and Senate overwhelmingly approved "Jessica's Law" on Thursday — a plan that would imprison some child sex offenders for at least 25 years and monitor them by satellite if they're released.

The bill requires adult offenders who commit certain sex crimes against children under the age of 13 — including rape — to be sent to prison for 25 years to life.

Offenders who are released would be monitored by a Global Positioning System satellite for life. They also would be restricted from entering some areas where children congregate, such as children's museums, playgrounds and child care centers. Sex offenders also would be barred from entering school grounds without written permission from a superintendent.

The plan creates new crimes for people who commit rape or other sexual offenses against a child younger than 13. It also boosts the penalties for several sex-related offenses involving children, including promoting prostitution of a minor and sexual exploitation.

"When we leave tomorrow and go home, I think that you can tell all of your folks that we have passed a premiere piece of legislation for our children, for all of the children in North Carolina," said Rep. Julia Howard, R-Davie.

The bill is named for Jessica Lunsford, a former Gaston County resident who was kidnapped, raped, and buried alive by a repeat sex offender in Florida in 2005. She was 9 years old.

In the wake of Lunsford's death, several states have ratcheted up penalties for child sex offenders. Jessica's father, Mark Lunsford, came to the Legislature last year to lobby for the bill's passage.

The House approved a draft of the plan last year, but the bill was sent to a special conference committee this month to develop a compromise bill after the Senate made minor changes dealing with sentencing mandates.

As lawmakers prepared to adjourn for the year, the Senate voted 44-0 and the House 109-1 to send the compromise measure to the governor.

"This makes North Carolina one of the toughest states, if not the toughest state, when it comes dealing with these child predators," said Rep. Tim Moore, R-Cleveland.