This bill allows registered sex offenders to live within community safety zones (areas around schools, parks, and shelters) if they established their residence before July 1, 2024, when the rule covering domestic abuse and sexual assault shelters took effect. Previously, sex offenders couldn't live in these zones unless they fell into narrow exceptions like being incarcerated or homeless; the new law grandfathers in people who were already living there before the 2024 shelter restriction was added.
This bill does not directly amend codified state law.
The amendment splits the grandfathering date for sex offenders already residing in community safety zones into two separate dates—July 1, 2006 for zones containing schools, parks, playgrounds, or pools, and July 1, 2024 for zones containing domestic abuse or sexual assault shelters—which NARROWS the original blanket exemption by creating different compliance timelines based on facility type.
The amendment changed the effective date for sex offender residence restrictions from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2006 for community safety zones that include schools, parks, playgrounds, or pools, making the restriction retroactively applicable to offenders who established residences years earlier. This STRENGTHENS the bill's purpose by expanding the reach of residence restrictions to cover a much larger population of registered sex offenders.
Signed by the Governor H.J. 326
Delivered to the Governor H.J. 288
Signed by the President S.J. 236
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 267
Senate Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 34, NAYS 0. S.J. 214
Judiciary Do Pass Passed, YEAS 6, NAYS 0. S.J. 16
Judiciary Scheduled for hearing S.J. 1
Senate Referred to Senate Judiciary S.J. 144
First Reading Senate S.J. 131
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 66, NAYS 0. H.J. 152
Judiciary Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 13, NAYS 0.
Judiciary Motion to amend
Judiciary Scheduled for hearing
First read in House and referred to House Judiciary H.J. 36
Prime sponsor · Sen.
R
Prime sponsor · Rep.
R
Do Pass Amended
Judiciary — Do Pass
Do Pass Amended
Judiciary — Do Pass Amended