I recently filed Senate Bill 123, an act to “clarify sex offender law.” Specifically, the intent of this bill is to clear up pre-existing law regarding the residence of a convicted sex offender in relation to schools or day care centers. The law states that a sex offender is prohibited from residing within 1,000 feet of a school or day care center unless the offender has established a residence at that location prior to their conviction. A residence is established in three ways: 1. purchase or contract of a purchase or property 2. entry into a written lease 3. resides with an immediate family member who established residence. The third exception to this law has caused law enforcement officials to misinterpret what is legal and illegal.
In more simple terms, a convicted child predator cannot move in with an immediate family member within 1,000 feet of a school or child care center if they, themselves, have not established residence with that family at that location prior to their arrest. I drafted and filed this bill after some constituents informed me of what was happening in their local community. Senate Bill 123 addresses this concern and will clear up sex offender law so that it can be properly enforced.