HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

HB 2555

Brief Description:  Prohibiting level II and III sex offenders from residing in public parks or playgrounds.

Sponsors:  Representatives Anderson, Barlean, and O'Brien.

Hearing:  January 28, 2000

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS

BACKGROUND:

Sex offenders released from the Department of Corrections, the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, and the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board are classified into one of three risk levels:  I (low risk), II (moderate risk), or III (high risk).

Although state law does not specify where a sex offender may live upon being released to the community, every adult and juvenile who has been adjudicated or convicted of a sex offense, or who has been found not guilty by reason of insanity of a sex offense is required to register with the county sheriff in the county of the person's residence.  When registering, he or she must provide the following information:  name, address, date and place of birth, place of employment, crime for which convicted, date and place of conviction, aliases used, social security number, photograph, and fingerprints.  If a person who is required to register changes his or her residence, the person must notify the county sheriff of the change of address.  If the person moves to a new county, the person must, prior to moving, notify the sheriff in the new county, and the sheriff of the county with whom the person last registered.  The person is also required to register with the sheriff of the new county within 24 hours of moving into the county.

A sex offender who is required to register but who does not have a fixed residence, must report in person to the county sheriff and, instead of an address, provide information about where he or she plans to stay.  Those sex offenders classified as risk level I must report monthly to the county sheriff.  Risk level II and III sex and offenders must report weekly.

SUMMARY OF BILL: 

A sex offender classified as a risk level II or III is prohibited from camping or sleeping in a public park or a playground between dusk and 6 a.m.  In addition, level II and III sex offenders may not reside or maintain a temporary or permanent residence of any kind on the grounds of any public park or playground.  A violation of this law is a gross misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a maximum of one year, or by a fine of not more than $5, 000, or by both.

FISCAL NOTE:  Received on January 28, 2000.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This bill takes effect July 1, 2001.