There are currently a number of bills being presented in Arkansas legislation targeting sex offenders.
HB1015: AN ACT TO MANDATE AN ADDITIONAL FINE FOR ANY PERSON CONVICTED OF A FELONY SEX OFFENSE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
HB1230: AN ACT CONCERNING A FINE ASSESSED PERSONS WHO ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS SEX OFFENDERS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
HB1243: AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE SEX OFFENDER ADDRESS LATE VERIFICATION FEE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
The issue I have with this bill is charging sex offenders late fees for being late with their registration, but what if the offender is in the hospital or out of state on a family emergency or something? There should at least be a clause in there stating that the fees will be waived if the offender or the offender's family can show evidence that the offender was unable to register in time. Hey, things happen... What if his car is in the shop and there is no other means of transportation? What if he HAS TO WORK or risk losing his job?
HB1278: AN ACT REGARDING SEX OFFENDER VERIFICATION, EMAIL ADDRESSES, AND INTERNET IDENTITIES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
This targets computer users, and if they have to have this restriction, then at the very least, perhaps this should ONLY apply to users who's crimes were computer related, and for a limited time (5 years maybe).
HB1406: TO AMEND THE PROCEDURES FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL OF A SEX OFFENDER ASSESSMENT OF A SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR.
HB1407: TO REQUIRE CERTAIN PERSONS TO REPORT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT KNOWLEDGE THAT ANOTHER PERSON IS IN POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY ON A COMPUTER.
HB1408: AN ACT TO PROHIBIT LEVEL 2 SEX OFFENDERS FROM LIVING WITHIN TWO THOUSAND FEET FROM A SCHOOL, PUBLIC PARK, YOUTH CENTER, OR DAYCARE; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Oh boy, residency restrictions for more offenders! Arkansas already has a law prohibiting level 3 and level 4 offenders from residing within 2000 feet of any schools, public parks, youth centers or daycare centers.
Tomorrow (Monday, February 21, 2011) the Arkansas RSOL representative is scheduled to testify against 5 bills in the Senate Judiciary Committee and on Tuesday, a group of us are going to the House Judiciary Committee to participate in a toure-de-force of testifying against some truly damaging legislation.
We are asking anyone who is able to come join us in speaking up against these bills!
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