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Sponsors seek to block registered sex offenders from residing near their victims
Summary
House Bill 102 would expand residency and loitering restrictions for registered sex offenders to ban residence within 2,000 feet and loitering within 1,000 feet of a victim; sponsors presented constituent examples and urged committee support.
Representatives Roy Klopfenstein and Josh Williams introduced House Bill 102 in the Public Safety Committee on June 10, saying the bill responds to a constituent case in which a convicted offender was able to live next door to a six‑year‑old victim. Klopfenstein said existing law prohibits sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of certain facilities but does not prevent an offender from residing next to a victim; HB102 would expand restrictions to bar registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of their victim and from loitering within 1,000 feet.
"My 6 year old constituent should not have to live in constant fear of going outside," Klopfenstein said in sponsor testimony recounting the case. Williams said the change "seeks to close this dangerous looph" and argued the bill would provide victims "a renewed sense of justice." Sponsors said the proposal is modeled after legislation from other states that adopted similar protections.
Committee members asked how frequently such situations occur and whether judges could impose no‑contact terms at sentencing; sponsors said sentencing and civil‑protection remedies vary and that some gaps can leave victims without long‑term protection unless legislation addresses the residency issue.
No vote was taken; the committee concluded the first hearing after sponsors answered questions and urged members' support.
