Senate creates exception for elderly, sick sex offenders
Under a bill passed by the Georgia Senate, elderly, terminally ill or disabled sex offenders might not be forced to leave their homes, even if children are nearby.
The legislation allows certain offenders to petition a judge for an exemption to current law. Right now, convicted sex offenders who are freed from prison cannot live within 1000 feet of churches, bus stops, schools and other places where children might gather. A nonprofit group is challenging that statute in federal court.
In what has become typical this session, senators tacked on a series of amendments so this legislation hardly resembles the version the House passed. One provision would prohibit convicted sex offenders from photographing minors. Another would require people on probation for any crime to submit to DNA testing.
The bill goes back to the House.
Under a bill passed by the Georgia Senate, elderly, terminally ill or disabled sex offenders might not be forced to leave their homes, even if children are nearby.
The legislation allows certain offenders to petition a judge for an exemption to current law. Right now, convicted sex offenders who are freed from prison cannot live within 1000 feet of churches, bus stops, schools and other places where children might gather. A nonprofit group is challenging that statute in federal court.
In what has become typical this session, senators tacked on a series of amendments so this legislation hardly resembles the version the House passed. One provision would prohibit convicted sex offenders from photographing minors. Another would require people on probation for any crime to submit to DNA testing.
The bill goes back to the House.
